Controlled Living Nanowire Growth: Precise Control over the Morphology and Optical Properties of AgAuAg Bimetallic Nanowires

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Martin Mayer - , University of Bayreuth (Author)
  • Leonardo Scarabelli - , CIC biomaGUNE (Author)
  • Katia March - , Universite Paris-Sud (Author)
  • Thomas Altantzis - , University of Antwerp (Author)
  • Moritz Tebbe - , University of Bayreuth (Author)
  • Mathieu Kociak - , Universite Paris-Sud (Author)
  • Sara Bals - , University of Antwerp (Author)
  • F. Javier Garciá De Abajo - , ICFO - Institute of Photonic Sciences, ICREA (Author)
  • Andreas Fery - , University of Bayreuth (Author)
  • Luis M. Liz-Marzán - , CIC biomaGUNE, Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science (Author)

Abstract

Inspired by the concept of living polymerization reaction, we are able to produce silver-gold-silver nanowires with a precise control over their total length and plasmonic properties by establishing a constant silver deposition rate on the tips of penta-twinned gold nanorods used as seed cores. Consequently, the length of the wires increases linearly in time. Starting with ∼210 nm × 32 nm gold cores, we produce nanowire lengths up to several microns in a highly controlled manner, with a small self-limited increase in thickness of ∼4 nm, corresponding to aspect ratios above 100, whereas the low polydispersity of the product allows us to detect up to nine distinguishable plasmonic resonances in a single colloidal solution. We analyze the spatial distribution and the nature of the plasmons by electron energy loss spectroscopy and obtain excellent agreement between measurements and electromagnetic simulations, clearly demonstrating that the presence of the gold core plays a marginal role, except for relatively short wires or high-energy modes.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5427-5437
Number of pages11
JournalNano letters
Volume15
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - 12 Aug 2015
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 26134470

Keywords

Keywords

  • bimetallic, gold, nanoplasmonics, nanowires, silver, synthesis