Self-assembly of Gold Nanoparticles into an Adjustable Plasmonic 3D Lattice using Janus-type Forked Mesogenic Ligands

Zhao, Yang yang; Cao, Yu; Siligardi, Giuliano; Mehl, Georg H.; Liu, Feng; Ungar, Goran

Abstract

We report the formation of a 3D body-centred self-assembled superlattice of gold nanoparticles whose interparticle gap, and hence its plasmonic properties, are adjustable exclusively in the xy-plane. Thus, even though the particles are spherical, their anisotropic packing generates tailorable plasmonic dichroism. The gold nanoparticles are coated with forked ligands containing two mesogens: either two cholesterols (“twin”), one cholesterol and one azobenzene (“Janus”), or a mixture of the two. Beside the body-centered arrangement of gold nanoparticles, the structure also contains unusual two-dimensionally x-y dual undulated (eggbox-like) smectic-like layers of mesogens. Moreover, the presence of azobenzene mesogens allows the superlattice to be melted through UV-induced photo-isomerization; the process is reversible displaying low fatigue on repeated cycling.

Citation

Zhao, Y. Y., Cao, Y., Siligardi, G., Mehl, G. H., Liu, F., & Ungar, G. (2022). Self-assembly of Gold Nanoparticles into an Adjustable Plasmonic 3D Lattice using Janus-type Forked Mesogenic Ligands. Chemistry - An Asian Journal, Article e202200057. https://doi.org/10.1002/asia.202200057

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 3, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Mar 22, 2022
• Publication Date: Mar 4, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 15, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 5, 2023
• Journal: Chemistry - An Asian Journal
• Print ISSN: 1861-4728
• Electronic ISSN: 1861-471X
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Article Number: e202200057
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/asia.202200057
• Keywords: Gold; Nanoparticles; Liquid crystal; Plasmonic resonance; Photoisomerization
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3949609