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Optical write-erase chemical memory state in plasmonic nanoarrays.
Victor Tabouillot1, Muhammad Murad1, Dylan Wilkinson1
1School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow Glasgow G12 8QQ UK malcolm.kadodwala@glasgow.ac.uk 2604448t@student.gla.ac.uk.
Chemical Science
|December 12, 2025
Summary
This study introduces a novel chemical memory using plasmonic nanoarrays and a thermoresponsive self-assembled monolayer (SAM). This system allows for optically programmable, durable information storage and selective erasure, enabling new nanofabrication and biosensing applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Plasmonic nanoarrays offer unique optical properties for sensing and information storage.
- Thermoresponsive self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) can change their structure with temperature, but often lack long-term stability.
- Existing systems for optically controlled surface chemistry have limitations in storage duration and selectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an optically programmable write-erase chemical memory using plasmonic nanoarrays coated with a thermoresponsive SAM.
- To achieve durable storage of chemical information through a kinetically trapped state.
- To enable selective addressing and erasure of chemical states on nanoarrays.
Main Methods:
- Coating plasmonic nanoarrays with a thermoresponsive self-assembled monolayer (SAM).
- Utilizing pulsed laser illumination for optical addressing and writing of collapsed interfacial states.
- Employing passive rehydration for erasing the stored chemical information.
- Characterizing switching events via spectral shifts in localized surface plasmon resonance and biomolecular binding assays.
- Performing electromagnetic and transient thermal simulations.
Main Results:
- The SAM forms a kinetically trapped, long-lived state, enabling durable chemical information storage for days.
- Selective addressing of individual nanoarrays is achieved by tuning illumination wavelength and polarization.
- Optical switching is reliably detected through measurable spectral shifts and altered biomolecular binding.
- Simulations support the experimental observations of switching mechanisms and thermal effects.
Conclusions:
- Plasmonic nanoarrays with thermoresponsive SAMs function as effective optically programmable write-erase chemical memories.
- This technology provides a general framework for multiplexed, erasable surface chemistry.
- The findings open new avenues for erasable nanofabrication and multiplexed biosensing applications.
