Hybrid plasmonic nanoemitters based on the combination of quantum dot emitters (QD) and plasmonic nanoantennas open up new perspectives in the control of light. However, precise positioning of any active medium at the nanoscale constitutes a challenge. Here, we report on the optimal overlap of antenna's near-field and active medium whose spatial distribution is controlled via a plasmon-triggered 2-photon polymerization of a photosensitive formulation containing QDs. Au nanoparticles of various geometries are considered. The response of these hybrid nano-emitters is shown to be highly sensitive to the light polarization. Different light emission states are evidenced by photoluminescence measurements. These states correspond to polarization-sensitive nanoscale overlap between the exciting local field and the active medium distribution. The decrease of the QD concentration within the monomer formulation allows trapping of a single quantum dot in the vicinity of the Au particle. The latter objects show polarization-dependent switching in the single-photon regime.
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The integration of nanoparticles (NPs) into photonic devices and plasmonic sensors requires selective patterning of these NPs with fine control of their size, shape and spatial positioning. In this article, we report on a general strategy to pattern different types of NPs. This strategy involves the functionalization of photopolymers before their patterning by two-photon laser writing to fabricate micro-and nanostructures that selectively attract colloidal 2 NPs with suitable ligands, allowing their precise immobilization and organization even within complex 3D structures. Monolayers of NPs without aggregations are obtained and the surface density of NPs on the polymer surface can be controlled by changing either the time of immersion in the colloidal solution or the type of amine molecule chemically grafted on the polymer surface. Different types of NPs (gold, silver, polystyrene, iron oxide, colloidal quantum dots and nanodiamonds) of different sizes are introduced showing a potential towards nanophotonic applications. To validate the great potential of our method, we successfully demonstrate the integration of quantum dots within a gold nanocube with high spatial resolution and nanometer precision. The promise of this hybrid nano-source of light (plasmonic/polymer/QDs) as optical nanoswitch is illustrated through photoluminescence measurements under polarized exciting light.
The integration of nano-emitters into plasmonic devices with spatial control and nanometer precision has become a great challenge. In this paper, we report on the use of a smart polymer for selectively immobilizing nano-emitters on specific preselected sites of gold nanocubes (GNC). The cunning use of the polymer is twofold. First, it records both the selected site and the future emitters-GNC distance through plasmon-assisted photopolymerization.Second, because the polymer is chemically functionalized, it makes it possible to attach the nano-emitters right at the preselected polymerized sites which subsequently "recognize" the nano-emitters to get attached. Since the resulting active medium is a spatial memory of specific plasmonic modes, it is anisotropic, making the hybrid nanosources sensitive to light polarization. The ability to adjust their statistical average lifetime by controlling the thickness of the nanopolymer is demonstrated on two kinds of nano-emitters coupled to GNC: doped polystyrene nanospheres and semiconductor colloidal quantum dots.
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