The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Au nanoparticles (NPs) was used to monitor photopolymerization at the nanoscale, by in situ monitoring the optical response of AuNPs during the light-induced polymerization process. To show the interest of this approach, two configurations were used which correspond to a resonant and a non-resonant excitation regime between the photopolymer and the AuNPs used as nanoprobes. We show that not only this method enables the progress monitoring of the photopolymerization reaction at the nanometric scale but also can highlight the near-field coupling effect responsible for the acceleration of the photoinduced reaction. This methodology appears very interesting to study the photoinduced nanofabrication processes of metal/polymer hybrid nanoparticles and more globally as a methodology to study the photopolymerization reactions at the nanometric scale.

A new simple, fast, and versatile method is developed to functionalize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via nanoscale layers of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The key step is based on near‐field radical photopolymerization of the MIP prepolymerization mixture. This enables the fabrication of AuNPs@MIPs hybrid nanoparticles, which are used as substrates for localized surface plasmon resonance and surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) analysis with excellent sensitivity and specificity. To demonstrate the performance of AuNPs@MIPs, methylene blue‐specific MIPs are prepared. The sensitivity of SERS detection is in the range of 10 nm. Specificity is demonstrated by comparing the response to a non‐imprinted control polymer and by interference testing with two analogs (Rhodamine 6G and Rhodamine 110). This fabrication method allows to obtain robust and reusable sensor surfaces with high sensitivity and selectivity. The nanometric thickness of the MIP allows for shorter analysis times (10 min), thereby improving the performance of MIP‐based sensors and opening up new perspectives for the detection of molecules at very low concentrations.

To achieve such excellent electrical properties, thin-film deposition by a high-vacuum system, such as sputtering, have been widely used. [9][10][11] Such processes usually require high cost for device fabrication. In contrast, the use of solution-based materials, especially for metal precursors used in sol-gel chemistry, has attracted significant interest over the past few years. [12][13][14][15][16][17] To achieve a thin-film oxide material based on the solgel method, a high-temperature thermal annealing process is usually necessary. It is necessary to remove the organic ligands and promote the condensation reaction to obtain a metal-oxide (MO) thin film from a xerogel structure. However, high-temperature treatment may limit further applications on flexible or plastic substrates. To date, a few techniques have been reported to overcome these drawbacks. Deep ultraviolet (DUV) or near-infrared (NIR) annealing have already been proposed as the critical step for fabricating thin-film oxide semiconductor devices. Kim et al., [18] Bolat et al., [19] and Moon et al. [20] showed that DUV or NIR annealing at low environmental temperatures can be successfully used to obtain thin-film devices with good carrier mobility and electrical properties. Furthermore, we recently showed that the use of NIR dyes can significantly improve the NIR laser curing of sol-gel indium-zinc-oxide (IZO) materials and allow their use as gas sensors. [21] One of the key parameters for the laser curing of MO precursors is to generate high absorption and efficient conversion to thermal energy. Because the sol-gel layers have an intrinsic low absorption in the NIR, it is necessary to add absorbers in the thin film to generate a local temperature increase. Highly conjugated organic molecules (NIR dyes), carbon black, and carbon nanotubes are potential candidates. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have also proved their utility. Under light excitation, significant thermal effects can be generated, which are known as thermoplasmonic effects. [22][23][24][25][26][27] They correspond to the damping of a plasmon resonance, which creates a temperature increase at the surface of NP that depends on several parameters such as irradiance of the incident light, irradiated area, light wavelength, nature and morphology, surface density, nature of the surrounding medium, and the substrate. [28] In specific conditions, temperature increases such as several hundreds of degrees are achievable and have been used to trigger several Here, a new method is proposed for preparing gold nanoparticles (Au NPs)/ indium-zinc-oxide (IZO) nanocomposite thin films based on photothermal mechanisms with near-Infrared (NIR) laser annealing, which allows integrating the nanomaterial on fragile substrates such as thin glass, plastic sheets, or 3D printed pieces. The Au NPs are first prepared by NIR laser dewetting of a thin Au layer. Then, the Au NPs are used to locally cure the semiconductor material and provide suitable electronic properties owing to their efficient thermoplasmonic effect...