Connecting metallic nanoparticles

In a recent publication in Nano Letters, the Applied Nanophysics group of CIBION demonstrates how to connect metallic nanoparticles on a substrate using light.

Using optical forces it is possible to "print" colloidal metallic nanoparticles on specific locations of a substrate, directly from the suspension. See for example the map of Argentina made of individual gold nanoparticles of 60 nm in diameter.

Making a careful use of optical forces, tuning focused laser beams on and off the plasmonic resonance of the metallic nanoparticles, it is possible to connect nanoparticles. Julián gargiulo, Ianina Violi, Santiago Cerrotta and Emiliano Cortés, under the direction of Prof. Fernando Stefani, managed to connect single gold nanoparticles to single silver nanoparticles, both of 60 nm in diameter.

This work constitutes an essential step toward the application of the vast variety of colloidal nanoparticles in circuits and devices.

J. Gargiulo, S. Cerrota, E. Cortés, I. L. Violi, F. D. Stefani
“Connecting metallic nanoparticles by optical printing”
Nano Letters 16 (2016) ASAP - DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b04542    pdf