Plasmonic gold-cellulose nanofiber aerogels

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Optics

Background:

• Plasmonic nanomaterials in low refractive index media are promising for optical applications.
• Conventional plasmonic aerogels are opaque and optically isotropic, limiting their use in advanced optical devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a transparent, optically anisotropic plasmonic aerogel composite.
• To investigate the optical properties of gold nanorods within a cellulose nanofiber network.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a composite aerogel integrating gold nanorods into a cellulose nanofiber network.
• Characterization of the aerogel's transparency and optical birefringence.
• Analysis of the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak shift of gold nanorods.

Main Results:

• The cellulose nanofiber aerogel host is highly transparent and exhibits strong optical birefringence.
• A dramatic shift in the LSPR peak of gold nanorods was observed upon gel drying.
• Simulations attributed the LSPR shift to changes in the effective refractive index of the aerogel.

Conclusions:

• The developed plasmonic-cellulose nanofiber composite aerogel is transparent and optically anisotropic.
• This material offers a tunable platform for advanced optical devices, including sensors and metamaterials.
• The observed LSPR shift highlights the potential for controlling plasmonic properties through host medium manipulation.