The aim of this collaborative research project is to study the collective optical behaviour of self-assembled nanoparticle arrays and their internal photophysical processes, and to explore their feasibility for plasmon nanolasers and biosensors. The following objectives are planned to be solved: (1) to study how the pattern and symmetry of nanoparticle‘s (NPs) arrays impact the surface lattice resonance (SLR) and introduce methods to enable active tuning of the SLR wavelength; (2) to study the internal photophysical processes of SLRs by comparing NP in arrays versus NPs in solution; (3) to use the SLRs of these self-assembled NP arrays to create a surface plasmon nanolaser; (4) to use 2D plasmonic structures for biosensing applications; (5) to develop alternatives to classical lithographic techniques, employing controlled wrinkling in combination with soft lithography that can be up-scaled to macroscopic areas and is compatible with continuous roll-to-roll processing.
Project funding:
EU ERA-NET and other coordination measures
Project results:
This collaborative research project aimed to study the collective optical behaviour of self-assembled nanoparticle arrays and their internal photophysical processes and explore their feasibility for plasmon nanolasers and biosensors. The tasks included: (i) studies how the pattern and symmetry of nanoparticle‘s (NPs) arrays impact the surface lattice resonance (SLR) and elaborating methods to enable active tuning of the SLR wavelength; (ii) studies of the internal photophysical processes of SLRs by comparing NPs in arrays versus NPs in solution; (iii) use the SLRs of these self-assembled NP arrays to create a surface plasmon nanolaser; (iv) use of 2D plasmonic structures for biosensing applications; (v) developing templates for NP assembly employing controlled wrinkling in combination with soft lithography that can be up-scaled to macroscopic areas and is compatible with continuous roll-to-roll processing. It is known that light can strongly interact with metal nanoparticles to excite collective oscillations of conduction electrons called localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs). The intensity and width of the LSPR peak are important because they represent the rate of energy loss in the system, which will impact various applications in biosensing, photocatalysis, and nanoscale lasers. Single nanoparticles have broad LSPRs due to loss processes associated with radiative damping and depolarization. Hence, their Q-factors rarely exceed 10. However, the intrinsic Q-factors of NPs, as we have demonstrated in our project, can be improved significantly by patterning them in arrays. This enabled the NPs to couple via diffraction and oscillate in sync as a collective group, causing each LSPR to narrow. The project contributed to the systematic studies of this coupling effect, including experimental and theoretical research aiming at the applications of this phenomenon to the development of principles of surface plasmon laser and biosensing. Starting with the TRL1 (basic principles observed) and TRL2 (technology concept formulated), at the end of the project, we explained the photophysical nature of SLRs and how they compare to single nanoparticles in solution. We were able to explain the loss processes of SLRs over multiple timescales, which are important for their prospects in applications. Furthermore, as proof of concept, we demonstrated how they can be used to generate lasing modes and novel biosensing applications (TRL4). The new concept of the upscaling techniques compatible with roll-to-roll technology was developed (TRL3).
Period of project implementation: 2021-06-01 - 2024-05-31
Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology
Project partners: Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, National Institute for Materials Science (Japan), Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e. V., UAB "Nanoversa"
