Protein-Assisted Assembly of Modular 3D Plasmonic Raspberry-like Core/Satellite Nanoclusters: Correlation of Structure and Optical Properties

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Roland P.M. Höller - , University of Bayreuth, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Martin Dulle - , University of Bayreuth (Author)
  • Sabrina Thomä - , University of Bayreuth (Author)
  • Martin Mayer - , Chair of Physical Chemistry of Polymeric Materials, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Anja Maria Steiner - , Chair of Physical Chemistry of Polymeric Materials, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Stephan Förster - , University of Bayreuth (Author)
  • Andreas Fery - , Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), University of Bayreuth, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Christian Kuttner - , University of Bayreuth, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Munish Chanana - , University of Bayreuth, ETH Zurich (Author)

Abstract

We present a bottom-up assembly route for a large-scale organization of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) into three-dimensional (3D) modular assemblies with core/satellite structure. The protein-assisted assembly of small spherical gold or silver NPs with a hydrophilic protein shell (as satellites) onto larger metal NPs (as cores) offers high modularity in sizes and composition at high satellite coverage (close to the jamming limit). The resulting dispersions of metal/metal nanoclusters exhibit high colloidal stability and therefore allow for high concentrations and a precise characterization of the nanocluster architecture in dispersion by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Strong near-field coupling between the building blocks results in distinct regimes of dominant satellite-to-satellite and core-to-satellite coupling. High robustness against satellite disorder was proved by UV/vis diffuse reflectance (integrating sphere) measurements. Generalized multiparticle Mie theory (GMMT) simulations were employed to describe the electromagnetic coupling within the nanoclusters. The close correlation of structure and optical property allows for the rational design of core/satellite nanoclusters with tailored plasmonics and well-defined near-field enhancement, with perspectives for applications such as surface-enhanced spectroscopies.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5740-5750
Number of pages11
JournalACS nano
Volume10
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - 28 Jun 2016
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • electromagnetic modeling, generalized multiparticle Mie theory (GMMT), nanoparticle assembly, plasmonic coupling, Protein-coated gold and silver nanoparticles, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)