Title: Fabrication of Large-Area Arrays of Vertically Aligned Gold Nanorods

Abstract

Anisotropic nanoparticles, such as nanorods and nanoprisms, enable packing of complex nanoparticle structures with different symmetry and assembly orientation, which result in unique functions. Despite previous extensive efforts, formation of large areas of oriented or aligned nanoparticle structures still remains a great challenge. In this paper, we report fabrication of large-area arrays of vertically aligned gold nanorods (GNR) through a controlled evaporation deposition process. We began with a homogeneous suspension of GNR and surfactants prepared in water. During drop casting on silicon substrates, evaporation of water progressively enriched the concentrations of the GNR suspension, which induces the balance between electrostatic interactions and entropically driven depletion attraction in the evaporating solution to produce large-area arrays of self-assembled GNR on the substrates. Electron microscopy characterizations revealed the formation of layers of vertically aligned GNR arrays that consisted of hexagonally close-packed GNR in each layer. Benefiting from the close-packed GNR arrays and their smooth topography, the GNR arrays exhibited a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal for molecular detection at a concentration as low as 10^–15 M. Because of the uniformity in large area, the GNR arrays exhibited exceptional detecting reproducibility and operability. Finally, this method is scalable and cost-effective and could lead tomore » diverse packing structures and functions by variation of guest nanoparticles in the suspensions.« less

Authors:

Wei, Wenbo ^[1]; Wang, Yuru ^[1]; Ji, Juanjuan ^[1]; Zuo, Shanshan ^[1]; Li, Wentao ^[1]; Bai, Feng ^[1]; Fan, Hongyou  ^[2]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Henan Univ., Kaifeng (China). Key Lab. for Special Functional Materials of the Ministry of Education. Collaborative Innovation Center of Nano Functional Materials and Applications
2. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies

Publication Date:

Mon Jun 25 00:00:00 EDT 2018

Research Org.:

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Henan Univ., Kaifeng (China)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Plan for Scientific Innovation Talent of Henan Province (China); Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (China)

OSTI Identifier:

1469626

Report Number(s):

SAND-2018-9736J
Journal ID: ISSN 1530-6984; 667621

Grant/Contract Number:  

NA0003525; 21422102; 21403054; 21771055; U1604139; 174200510019; PCS IRT_15R18

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Nano Letters

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 18; Journal Issue: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 1530-6984

Publisher:

American Chemical Society

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; depletion attraction; directional self-assembly; gold nanorods; morphology; SERS; vertical alignment