Shape-dependent oriented trapping and scaffolding of plasmonic nanoparticles by topological defects for self-assembly of colloidal dimers in liquid crystals.
We demonstrate scaffolding of plasmonic nanoparticles by topological defects induced by colloidal microspheres to match their surface boundary conditions with a uniform far-field alignment in a liquid crystal host. Displacing energetically costly liquid crystal regions of reduced order, anisotropic nanoparticles with concave or convex shapes not only stably localize in defects but also self-orient with respect to the microsphere surface. Using laser tweezers, we manipulate the ensuing nanoparticle-microsphere colloidal dimers, probing the strength of elastic binding and demonstrating self-assembly of hierarchical colloidal superstructures such as chains and arrays.
Department of Physics, Materials Science and Engineering Program, and Liquid Crystals Materials Research Center, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA.
Bohdan
B
Senyuk
Julian S
JS
Evans
Paul J
PJ
Ackerman
Taewoo
T
Lee
Pramit
P
Manna
Leonid
L
Vigderman
Eugene R
ER
Zubarev
Jao
J
van de Lagemaat
Ivan I
II
Smalyukh
D003102:Colloids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D019281:Dimerization; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008863:Microspheres; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance; D013499:Surface Properties
D003102:Colloids