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Dynamics of Reconfigurable Plasmonic Metamolecules Characterized by High-Throughput Time-Resolved Circular
Run Pan1,2, Hao Li1, Xiaoyao Wang2,3
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Frontier Material Physics and Devices, School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China.
ACS Nano
|July 21, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to track the movement of tiny chiral plasmonic nanostructures (metamolecules). This allows for detailed analysis of how these metamolecules change shape, paving the way for advanced smart systems.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics
- Nanotechnology
- Chiral metamaterials
Background:
- Understanding individual reconfigurable chiral plasmonic nanostructures (metamolecules) is key to designing advanced metamaterials.
- Time-resolved statistical analysis at the single-metamolecule level is crucial for characterizing dynamic processes.
- Current methods lack the throughput for detailed trajectory analysis of dynamic metamolecules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a high-throughput time-resolved circular differential scattering (TRCDS) method for single metamolecule characterization.
- To investigate the conformational transitions of reconfigurable plasmonic metamolecules driven by DNA hybridization.
- To enable statistical analysis of dynamic processes in individual metamolecules.
Main Methods:
- Developed a high-throughput time-resolved circular differential scattering (TRCDS) technique.
- Immobilized single reconfigurable plasmonic metamolecules on a substrate for in situ measurements.
- Utilized DNA strand hybridization to drive conformational transitions in an aqueous environment.
Main Results:
- Achieved time-resolved trajectory measurements of individual metamolecule conformational transitions.
- Enabled high-throughput optical characterization and statistical analysis of hundreds of metamolecules simultaneously.
- Determined a transition path time (τTP) of 123.7 ms for the conformational transition.
- Demonstrated engineering of metamolecule dynamics by varying DNA strand lengths, enhancing enantiomeric state stability.
Conclusions:
- The developed TRCDS method allows for detailed characterization of dynamic processes in single metamolecules.
- This research enables dynamic manipulation of reconfigurable plasmonic nanostructures.
- The findings support the rational construction of smart systems utilizing reconfigurable metamaterials.
Keywords:
DNA hybridizationcircular differential scatteringdark field microscopydynamicsmetamoleculesingle particle spectroscopy
