Solvothermal synthesis, denoting chemical reactions occurring in metastable liquids above their boiling point, normally requires the use of a sealed autoclave under pressure to prevent the solvent from boiling. This work introduces an experimental approach that enables solvothermal synthesis at ambient pressure in an open reaction medium. The approach is based on the use of gold nanoparticles deposited on a glass substrate and acting as photothermal sources. To illustrate the approach, the selected hydrothermal reaction involves the formation of indium hydroxide microcrystals favored at 200 degrees C in liquid water. In addition to demonstrating the principle, the benefits and the specific characteristics of such an approach are investigated, in particular, the much faster reaction rate, the achievable spatial and time scales, the effect of microscale temperature gradients, the effect of the size of the heated area, and the effect of thermal-induced microscale fluid convection. This technique is general and could be used to spatially control the deposition of virtually any material for which a solvothermal synthesis exists
Shaping and positioning noble metal nanostructures are essential processes that still require laborious and sophisticated techniques to fabricate functional plasmonic interfaces. The present study reports a simple photochemical approach compatible with micellar nanolithography and photolithography that enables the growth, arrangement and shaping of gold nanoparticles with tuneable plasmonic resonances on glass substrates. Ultraviolet illumination of surfaces coated with gold-loaded micelles leads to the formation of gold nanoparticles with micro/nanometric spatial resolution without requiring any photosensitizers or photoresists. Depending on the extra-micellar chemical environment and the illumination wavelength, block copolymer micelles act as reactive and light-responsive templates, which enable to grow gold deformed nanoparticles (potatoids) and nanorings. Optical characterization reveals that arrays of individual potatoids and rings feature a localized plasmon resonance around 600 and 800 nm, respectively, enhanced photothermal properties and high temperature sustainability, making them ideal platforms for future developments in nanochemistry and biomolecular manipulation controlled by near-infrared-induced heat.
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