title: Three-dimensional photonic "molecules" from sequentially attached polymer-blend microparticles.
abstract: We report the observation of 3D linear or branched chains of polymer-blend microspheres generated from liquid droplets of solution where the modified surface structure of the polymer composite results in highly robust interparticle bonds. Using a linear quadrupole to precisely position particles in space, we are able to take advantage of this novel material property to actively assemble particles in programmable three-dimensional architectures. The robust interlocking nature of interparticle linkage gives rise to strongly coupled morphology-dependent resonances in bisphere and trisphere systems, suggesting the possibility of three-dimensional photonic "molecules" and microscale optical manipulation applications.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6142, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mahurin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Sumpter
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Noid