Noble metal nanoparticles, when arranged in periodic lattices, can generate high quality surface lattice resonances. The spectral peaks of these resonances are very narrow and the corresponding electromagnetic fields are delocalized in the plane of the array. These features allow relevant applications such as biosensors and nanolasers. Periodic metal nanostructures are usually formed using bottom-up processes which have their shortcomings. On the other hand, synthesized nanoparticles can be identical in shape and size, and can be deposited into arrays via capillary force assisted assembly on polymer templates. By joining these techniques, both essential prerequisites to achieve high quality resonances are fulfilled: controlled periodicity and high quality nanoparticles. Furthermore, elastic polymer templates can be stretched/compressed to tune the spectral position of this resonance. During the project, the ways to produce these templates will be developed and investigated. The effects of mechanical stretching will also be investigated once the nanoparticle arrays are produced. The student will not only get acquainted with plasmonics research, but will also acquire valuable experience by applying the studied theory.
Project funding:
Project is funded by EU Structural Funds according to the 2014–2020 Operational Programme for the European Union Funds’ Investments priority “Development of scientific competence of researchers, other researchers, students through practical scientific activities” under Measure No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712.
Project results:
The student got acquainted with and mastered the technologies for production of polymer replica and UV-Vis spectroscopy. He performed a series of replication experiments, found tendencies of replica quality, and came up with an optimal method for an effective replication process. Later, he summed up these insights in a practical user’s guide. Furthermore, the student designed a sample stretching device, which was then 3D printed. He went on to use it in a UV-Vis setup successfully and acquired the optical response of nanoparticle arrays that were deposited on the polymer replica he produced. The analysis of the spectra showed high-quality surface lattice resonance peaks and their shift with relation to the deformation of the sample. All project results and conclusions have been put in a report and presented in a seminar.
Period of project implementation: 2019-07-01 - 2019-08-31
Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology
