Self-Organized Metal Nanoarchitectures for Planar Plasmonics

该研究项目的目标是开发多功能的方法，用于金属纳米结构的自组织，其中金属纳米颗粒的胶体溶液使用共价纳米颗粒-基底相互作用组装在自组织化学域上。 待开发的组装过程允许控制纳米颗粒的尺寸、组成和形状、组装成簇的纳米颗粒的数量以及阵列结构。 将研究化学域直径与纳米颗粒直径之比作为控制簇尺寸的手段。 毛细管力和双层力之间的平衡产生簇中的纳米颗粒之间的分子尺度分离，这对于产生增强的光场是重要的。 粒子间的间距和簇的大小将被改变以调谐共振和光场的局部增强。研究聚集或排列的纳米粒子中的局部和集体共振的模型将被开发，包括局部态密度，消光系数和吸收系数。聚焦离子束、电子束和纳米压印光刻等标准纳米级光刻技术都不容易转化为将概念验证转化为商业产品所需的大面积生产。相比之下，引导自组织在这里被设计成成本低廉且可扩展到大面积生产。金属纳米结构有序阵列的简易、大面积合成将实现或提高几项关键技术的性能。 包括与工业和政府实验室的伙伴关系，以测试传感器，激光和探测器应用中的金属纳米系统。 例如，等离子体纳米粒子簇将用于降低生物医学应用和爆炸物检测中所需的基于光学的传感器中的检测限。 该研究计划还将直接有助于研究生和本科生的教育，通过在现代研究的前沿领域的实践实验室经验。外联活动将包括将当地高中学生纳入研究活动，以增加代表性不足群体的科学、技术、工程和数学入学率。

The objective of this research project is to develop versatile methods for self-organization of metal nano-architectures where colloidal solutions of metal nanoparticles are assembled on self-organized chemical domains using covalent nanoparticle-substrate interactions. The assembly process to be developed allows for control of nanoparticle size, composition and shape, number of nanoparticles assembled in a cluster as well as array architecture. The chemical domain diameter to nanoparticle diameter ratio will be investigated as a means to control the cluster size. A balance between capillary and double layer forces yields molecular scale separations between nanoparticles in clusters that is important to yield enhanced optical fields. The inter-particle spacing and cluster size will be varied to tune resonances and local enhancement of optical fields. Models for investigating local and collective resonances in clustered or arrayed nanoparticles will be developed, including the local density of states, and extinction and absorption coefficients. None of the standard nanoscale lithographic techniques such as focused ion-beam, electron beam and nano-imprint lithography, are easily translated into large-area production that is needed to transform proof of concepts into commercial products. In contrast, guided self-organization is designed here to be inexpensive and scalable to large-area production. Facile, large-area synthesis of ordered arrays of metal nanostructures will enable or enhance performance in several critical technologies. Partnerships with industrial and government laboratories are included to test metal nanosystems in sensor, laser and detector applications. For example, plasmonic nanoparticle clusters will be used to lower detection limits in optical based sensors that is needed in both biomedical applications and in explosive agent detection. The research program will also directly contribute to the education of graduate and undergraduate students through hands-on laboratory experience in a field that is at the forefront of modern research. Outreach activities will include integrating local high school students in research activities to increase science, technology, engineering, and math enrollment of underrepresented groups.