Nanoscale uniformity in the active tuning of a plasmonic array by polymer gel volume change

Abstract

Nanoscale imaging and spectral analyses support the tremendous potential of the active tuning of nanostructures by hydrogels.

Coupled Plasmon Modes in 2D Gold Nanoparticle Clusters and Their Effect on Local Temperature Control

“…For instance, it has been shown how the inter-particle gap of nanoparticle assembly embedded in a substrate can be controlled by thermal treatment, chemical modification or mechanical strain of the substrate without structural distortion. [72][73][74] A visual demonstration of this effect can be found in the video attached as supporting document. It is, however, important to note that demonstrated photothermal effect due to inter-particle gap is only possible with 20 nm particles according to our simulation.…”

Reversible changes in the orientation of gold nanorod arrays on polymer brushes

“…Thus, the latter approach, such as embedding into or attachment onto so materials such as elastomers and gels as a supporting matrix, is promising as it allows their distances to be tuned through stretching or compressing the matrices by mechanical forces [30][31][32] or the changing of the matrix volume through variations in the swelling conditions. [33][34][35] These changes in the matrix shape were also applied to actively change the GNR orientations. 36 From the viewpoint of applications, arrays on solid substrates are more preferable.…”

Plasmonic nanomaterials with responsive polymer hydrogels for sensing and actuation

“…This type of structure was realized with a poly(acrylic acid) (pAAc) hydrogel membrane that carried rectangular gold nanoparticles fabricated by electron beam lithography (EBL). 127 It exhibited a particle-particle gap of 15 nm that was much narrower than the period Λ of about 100 nm. By swelling and collapsing of the pAAc membrane due to the ionic strength variations, the period Λ was modulated between 100 nm and 200 nm.…”

“…10A ). 127 The closely packed rectangular gold nanoparticles were prepared on a Si substrate by EBL and then transferred onto a thin pAAc hydrogel membrane that was allowed to swell in an aqueous medium. This membrane was prepared by polymerization in a narrow mold and exhibited a thickness of 1 millimeter in the swollen state.…”