Laser-Induced Chirality of Plasmonic Nanoparticles Embedded in Porous Matrix

Anastasiia A. Sapunova, Yulia I. Yandybaeva, Roman A. Zakoldaev, Alexandra V. Afanasjeva, Olga V. Andreeva, Igor A. Gladskikh, Tigran A. Vartanyan, Daler R. Dadadzhanov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Chiral plasmonic nanostructures have emerged as promising objects for numerous applications in nanophotonics, optoelectronics, biosensing, chemistry, and pharmacy. Here, we propose a novel method to induce strong chirality in achiral ensembles of gold nanoparticles via irradiation with circularly-polarized light of a picosecond Nd:YAG laser. Embedding of gold nanoparticles into a nanoporous silicate matrix leads to the formation of a racemic mixture of metal nanoparticles of different chirality that is enhanced by highly asymmetric dielectric environment of the nanoporous matrix. Then, illumination with intense circularly-polarized light selectively modifies the particles with the chirality defined by the handedness of the laser light, while their “enantiomers” survive the laser action almost unaffected. This novel modification of the spectral hole burning technique leads to the formation of an ensemble of plasmonic metal nanoparticles that demonstrates circular dichroism up to 100 mdeg. An unforeseen peculiarity of the chiral nanostructures obtained in this way is that 2D and 3D nanostructures contribute almost equally to the observed circular dichroism signals. Thus, the circular dichroism is neither even nor odd under reversal of direction of light propagation. These findings will help guide the development of a passive optical modulator and nanoplatform for enhanced chiral sensing and catalysis.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1634
JournalNanomaterials
Volume13
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 2D materials
  • 3D materials
  • LSPR
  • chiral plasmonics
  • chirality
  • circular dichroism
  • gold
  • nanoporous
  • optical activity
  • plasmonic nanoparticles

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Materials Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Laser-Induced Chirality of Plasmonic Nanoparticles Embedded in Porous Matrix'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this