Plasmonic nature of van der Waals forces between nanoparticles

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel approach linking van der Waals forces between nanoparticles to surface plasmon oscillations, enabling better understanding and control of nanoparticle interactions.

Contribution

It presents a new theoretical framework connecting van der Waals energy to surface plasmon oscillations in nanoparticles, applicable to metallic and conducting surfaces.

Findings

Van der Waals forces can be described via surface plasmon energies.

The theory applies to metallic nanoparticle interactions and nanoparticle-surface interactions.

Potential for experimental verification of plasmonic molecules and control of nanoparticle adhesion.

Abstract

We propose a new approach to calculate van der Waals forces between nanoparticles where the van der Waals energy can be reduced to the energy of elementary surface plasmon oscillations in nanoparticles. The general theory is applied to describe the interaction between 2 metallic nanoparticles and between a nanoparticle and a perfectly conducting plane. Our results could be used to prove experimentally the existence of plasmonic molecules and to elaborate new control mechanisms for the adherence of nanoparticles between each other or onto surfaces.