Nanostrucure of Hybrid Plasmonic-Potonic Crystal Formed on Gel-Immobilized Colloidal Crystal Observer by AFM after Drying

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the fabrication and AFM characterization of a hybrid plasmonic-photonic crystal formed on gel-immobilized colloidal crystals with gold nanoparticles, revealing their nanostructure after drying.

Contribution

It introduces a method to create and observe hybrid plasmonic-photonic crystals on gel-immobilized colloidal templates using AFM after drying.

Findings

Face-centered cubic {111} structure identified in colloidal crystal.

Gold nanoparticles (~40 nm) observed on the crystal surface.

Nanoparticles are isolated, indicating successful surface deposition.

Abstract

Aiming at fabrication of hybrid plasmonic-photonic crystals, gel-immobilized colloidal crystals made of a polystyrene colloidal suspension and an N-(Hydroxy methyl)acrylamid-based gel were immersed into an aqueous dispersion of gold nanoparticles. Atomic force microscope (AFM) observations have been performed for the gel-immobilized colloidal crystals with gold nanoparticles deposited on their surfaces. In the present study, the diameter of a colloidal sphere was c.a. 190 nm. The diameter of a gold nanoparticle was the same as in a preliminary study, c.a. 40 nm. Various immersion times up to two hours were tested. Surface of a sample of 2 hr immersion has been observed. Prior to the AFM observation, the sample was dried in a desiccator for 18 hrs. We have identified a face-centered cubic {111} structure of a colloidal crystal of nearly close packing. Nanoparticles isolated with one another have been observed on the surface of gel-immobilized crystal, which can be regarded as gold nanoparticles from their sizes.