Self-assembled surface arrays of mesoscale plasmonic devices for switchable control of coloured surfaces

Funding: 2006: $129,000
2007: $110,000
2008: $110,000

Project Member(s): Cortie, M., Ford, M., Valenzuela, S., Smith, G.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC Discovery Projects)

Start year: 2006

Summary: This project aims to show how a nanoscale mechano-optical device can be produced by the processes of chemical self-assembly. The device we envisage will consist of a multitude of nanoscale rods of gold that can be raised or lowered in response to an external stimulus. The actuator for this movement will be a conformation-changing organic molecule. The movement of the rod will cause the optical properties of a surface on which such arrays have been assembled to switch between two states. The project harnesses current knowledge and skills in respect of nanoscale self-assembly, conformation-changing organic molecules and optical properties in a totally new way.

Publications:

De Silva, KSB, Keast, VJ, Gentle, A & Cortie, MB 2017, 'Optical properties and oxidation ofα-phase Ag–Al thin films', Nanotechnology, vol. 28, no. 9, pp. 095202-095202.
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Tomak, A, Bacaksiz, C, Mendirek, G, Sahin, H, Hur, D, Gorgun, K, Senger, RT, Birer, O, Peeters, FM & Zareie, HM 2016, 'Structural changes in a Schiff base molecular assembly initiated by scanning tunneling microscopy tip', NANOTECHNOLOGY, vol. 27, no. 33.
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Keywords: optical properties, nanotechnology, smart materials, proteins, intelligent polymers, gold nanorods,

FOR Codes: Materials Engineering not elsewhere classified, Optical Physics not elsewhere classified, Physical Chemistry not elsewhere classified, Computer hardware and electronic equipment not elsewhere classified, Materials engineering not elsewhere classified , Atomic, molecular and optical physics