NanoPen: dynamic, low-power, and light-actuated patterning of nanoparticles

Nano Lett. 2009 Aug;9(8):2921-5. doi: 10.1021/nl901239a.

Abstract

We introduce NanoPen, a novel technique for low optical power intensity, flexible, real-time reconfigurable, and large-scale light-actuated patterning of single or multiple nanoparticles, such as metallic spherical nanocrystals, and one-dimensional nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes. NanoPen is capable of dynamically patterning nanoparticles over an area of thousands of square micrometers with light intensities <10 W/cm(2) (using a commercial projector) within seconds. Various arbitrary nanoparticle patterns and arrays (including a 10 x 10 array covering a 0.025 mm(2) area) are demonstrated using this capability. One application of NanoPen is presented through the creation of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy hot-spots by patterning gold nanoparticles of 90 nm diameter with enhancement factors exceeding 10(7) and picomolar concentration sensitivities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.