Publications & Presentations
Long-range and rapid transport of individual nano-objects by a hybrid electrothermoplasmonic nanotweezer
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2016
Abstract
Plasmon-enhanced optical trapping is being actively studied to provide efficient manipulation of nanometre-sized objects. However, a long-standing issue with previously proposed solutions is how to controllably load the trap on-demand without relying on Brownian diffusion. Here, we show that the photo-induced heating of a nanoantenna in conjunction with an applied a.c. electric field can initiate rapid microscale fluid motion and particle transport with a velocity exceeding 10 μm s -1 , which is over two orders of magnitude faster than previously predicted. Our electrothermoplasmonic device enables on-demand long-range and rapid delivery of single nano-objects to specific plasmonic nanoantennas, where they can be trapped and even locked in place. We also present a physical model that elucidates the role of both heat-induced fluidic motion and plasmonic field enhancement in the plasmon-assisted optical trapping process. Finally, by applying a d.c. field or low-frequency a.c. field (below 10 Hz) while the particle is held in the trap by the gradient force, the trapped nano-objects can be immobilized into plasmonic hotspots, thereby providing the potential for effective low-power nanomanufacturing on-chip.
Recommended Citation
Ndukaife, J. C., Kildishev, A. V., Nnanna, A. G. A., Shalaev, V. M., Wereley, S. T., & Boltasseva, A. (2016). Long-range and rapid transport of individual nano-objects by a hybrid electrothermoplasmonic nanotweezer. Nature Nanotechnology, 1 1(1), 53-59.doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.utpb.edu/10.1038/nnano.2015.248