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Title: Plasmon–Exciton Interactions Probed Using Spatial Coentrapment of Nanoparticles by Topological Singularities

Journal Article · · ACS Nano
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
  2. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States). Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center; National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Renewable and Sustainable Energy Inst.
  3. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States; National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Renewable and Sustainable Energy Inst.

We study plasmon–exciton interaction by using topological singularities to spatially confine, selectively deliver, cotrap and optically probe colloidal semiconductor and plasmonic nanoparticles. The interaction is monitored in a single quantum system in the bulk of a liquid crystal medium where nanoparticles are manipulated and nanoconfined far from dielectric interfaces using laser tweezers and topological configurations containing singularities. When quantum dot-in-a-rod particles are spatially colocated with a plasmonic gold nanoburst particle in a topological singularity core, its fluorescence increases because blinking is significantly suppressed and the radiative decay rate increases by nearly an order of magnitude owing to the Purcell effect. Here, we argue that the blinking suppression is the result of the radiative rate change that mitigates Auger recombination and quantum dot ionization, consequently reducing nonradiative recombination. Finally, our work demonstrates that topological singularities are an effective platform for studying and controlling plasmon–exciton interactions.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division; National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308; DMR-1410735
OSTI ID:
1595094
Journal Information:
ACS Nano, Vol. 9, Issue 12; ISSN 1936-0851
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 15 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Dynamic self-assembly of nanoparticles using thermotropic liquid crystals text January 2016
High-order elastic multipoles as colloidal atoms journal April 2019
Dynamic self-assembly of nanoparticles using thermotropic liquid crystals journal September 2016
Preparation and properties of plasmonic-excitonic nanoparticle assemblies journal January 2019
Squirming motion of baby skyrmions in nematic fluids journal September 2017
Dynamics of topological solitons, knotted streamlines, and transport of cargo in liquid crystals journal May 2018
Dynamic self-assembly of nanoparticles using thermotropic liquid crystals text January 2016
Plasmonic Metamaterial Gels with Spatially Patterned Orientational Order via 3D Printing journal November 2019