Structure and plasmon coupling of gold-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) core-shell microgel arrays with thermally controlled interparticle gap

Title data

Clara-Rahola, Joaquim ; Contreras-Cáceres, Rafael ; Sierra-Martin, Benjamin ; Maldonado-Valdivia, Ana ; Hund, Markus ; Fery, Andreas ; Hellweg, Thomas ; Fernandez-Barbero, Antonio:
Structure and plasmon coupling of gold-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) core-shell microgel arrays with thermally controlled interparticle gap.
In: Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. Vol. 463 (2014) . - pp. 18-27.
ISSN 0927-7757
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2014.09.029

Official URL:

Abstract in another language

Core-shell Au@pNIPAM nanocomposites are assembled through a simple and inexpensive approach where drops from the stock nanoparticle solution are dried on ITO surfaces at fixed and finely tuned temperatures. Interparticle distances are determined by the length of the thermoresponsive PNiPAM shell. This process allows controlling the distance among gold cores as function of the PNiPAM shell thickness as it acts as mechanical spacer. The elasticity of the polymer shell at each temperature must be considered as the shell is more elastic at temperatures below PNIPAM's LSCT than at temperatures above this critical one. These two parameters, thermal PNiPAM response and shell elasticity, determine the interparticle gap and thus the structure of deposited arrays. Structural characterization is performed through electronic microscope imaging techniques. We quantify the pair and orientational correlation functions characteristic to arrays deposited at different temperatures and resolve that deposited microgels exhibit predominant hexagonal structure. In a second step, Au@PNiPAM arrays are exposed to atmospheric plasma. Plasma reacts and degrades the PNiPAM shell, being non- invasive to Au cores which remain at their original array positions. 2D ordered arrays of bare gold nanospheres are achieved with the center-to-center distance previously tuned by temperature. Finally, plasmon coupling experiments are performed where vertical plasmon coupling between the Au particle cores and a sputtered gold substrate becomes apparent during the deswelling-drying process of the polymer shell, whereas no lateral coupling between the cores is detected.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Refereed:	Yes
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry > Former Professors > Chair Physical Chemistry II - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Andreas Fery Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry > Chair Physical Chemistry II Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry > Former Professors
Result of work at the UBT:	Yes
DDC Subjects:	500 Science > 500 Natural sciences 500 Science > 530 Physics 500 Science > 540 Chemistry
Date Deposited:	05 Dec 2014 07:51
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2023 08:30
URI:	https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/3917