Nanoplasmonic photonic crystal diatoms and phytoliths

Mark P. Andrews; Ahmadreza Hajiaboli; Jonathan Hiltz; Timothy Gonzalez; Gursimranbir Singh; R. Bruce Lennox

doi:10.1117/12.881467

1 March 2011 Nanoplasmonic photonic crystal diatoms and phytoliths

Mark P. Andrews, Ahmadreza Hajiaboli, Jonathan Hiltz, Timothy Gonzalez, Gursimranbir Singh, R. Bruce Lennox

Proceedings Volume 7946, Photonic and Phononic Properties of Engineered Nanostructures; 79461S (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.881467
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2011, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Evidence is emerging that silica-containing plant cells (phytoliths) and single cell micro-organisms (diatoms) exhibit optical properties reminiscent of photonic crystals. In the latter biosilicates, these properties appear to arise from light interactions with the intricate periodic patterns of micro- and nano-pores called foramina that are distributed over the frustule (outer silica shell). In this report, we show that Nitzschia Closterium pennate diatom frustules can be used to template arrays of nanoplasmonic particles to confer more complex physical properties, as shown by simulation and experiment. Selective templating of silver and gold nanoparticles in and around the array of pores was achieved by topochemical functionalization with nanoparticles deposited from solution, or by differential wetting/dewetting of evaporated gold films. The nanoplasmonic diatom frustules exhibit surface enhanced Raman scattering from chemisorbed 4-aminothiophenol. Thermally induced dewetting of gold films deposited on a frustule produces two classes of faceted gold nanoparticles. Larger particles of irregular shape are distributed with some degree of uniaxial anisotropy on the surface of the frustule. Smaller particles of more uniform size are deposited in a periodic manner in the frustule pores. It is thought that surface curvature and defects drive the hydrodynamic dewetting events that give rise to the different classes of nanoparticles. Finite difference time domain calculations on an idealized nanoplasmonic frustule suggest a complex electromagnetic field response due to coupling between localized surface plasmon modes of the nanoparticles in the foramina and an overlayer gold film.

Citation Download Citation

Mark P. Andrews, Ahmadreza Hajiaboli, Jonathan Hiltz, Timothy Gonzalez, Gursimranbir Singh, and R. Bruce Lennox "Nanoplasmonic photonic crystal diatoms and phytoliths", Proc. SPIE 7946, Photonic and Phononic Properties of Engineered Nanostructures, 79461S (1 March 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.881467

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