The collaborative oscillation of conductive electrons in metal nanoparticles results a surface plasmon resonance that makes them useful for various applications including biolabeling. We investigate the coupling between pairs elliptical particles by simulations and experiments. demonstrate resonant wavelength peak two interacting is red-shifted from single particle because near-field coupling. It also found shift decays approximately exponentially with increasing spacing become negligible...

Single-file diffusion, prevalent in many processes, refers to the restricted motion of interacting particles narrow micropores with mutual passage excluded. A single-filing system was developed by confining colloidal spheres one-dimensional circular channels micrometer scale. Optical video microscopy study shows evidence that particle self-diffusion is non-Fickian for long periods time. In particular, distribution displacement a Gaussian function.

A new nanophotolithography technique based on the interference of surface plasmon waves is proposed and demonstrated by using computer simulations. The wavelengths at metal dielectric interfaces can reach nanometer scale while their frequencies remain in optical range. As a result, resolution this nanolithography (SPIN) go far beyond free-space diffraction limit light. Simulation results show that one-dimensional two-dimensional periodical structures 40-100 nm features be patterned...

Microplastics are a global concern in aquatic ecology and readily colonized by bacteria the environment. There is lack of information on bacterial colonization eroded un-eroded microplastics freshwater. In this study, six types were incubated for 8 weeks microcosms with water from Lake Erie. Microcosms inoculated one three species: Acinetobacter (A.) calcoaceticus, Burkholderia (B.) cepacia, Escherichia (E.) coli. These species ubiquitous bodies associated human populations. Bacterial...

We report experimental and theoretical studies on the plasmon resonances of finite one-dimensional chains Au nanoparticles excited by evanescent light waves with polarization parallel to chains. The results show that resonance peak wavelengths these 1D are significantly red-shifted in comparison single nanoparticle. Contrary previous findings, observed be a nonmonotonic function particle numbers chain. This phenomenon is reproduced obtained using transfer-matrix method shown occur only for...

A plasmonic photopatterning technique is proposed and demonstrated for aligning the molecular orientation in liquid crystals (LCs) patterns with designer complexity. Using metamasks which target directors are encoded, LC alignments of arbitrary planar can be achieved a repeatable scalable fashion withunprecedentedly high spatial resolution throughput. As service to our authors readers, this journal provides supporting information supplied by authors. Such materials peer reviewed may...

Self-propelled bacteria are marvels of nature with a potential to power dynamic materials and microsystems the future. The challenge lies in commanding their chaotic behavior. By dispersing swimming Bacillus subtilis liquid crystalline environment spatially varying orientation anisotropy axis, we demonstrate control over distribution bacterial concentration, as well geometry polarity trajectories. Bacteria recognize subtle differences crystal deformations, engaging bipolar regions pure splay...

We theoretically demonstrate that the two-dimensional porous C2N sheet exhibits an extremely high selectivity and large permeance in favour of H2 among other atmospheric gases. This experimentally available is superior to traditional membranes, such as polymers silica, could have great potential for hydrogen separation.

Eukaryotic cells in living tissues form dynamic patterns with spatially varying orientational order that affects important physiological processes such as apoptosis and cell migration. The challenge is how to impart a predesigned map of onto growing tissue. Here, we demonstrate an approach produce monolayers human dermal fibroblasts topological defects using photoaligned liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) swells anisotropically aqueous medium. inscribed into the LCE are replicated by tissue...

Stimuli-responsive liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) with a strong coupling of orientational molecular order and rubber-like elasticity, show great potential as working elements in soft robotics, sensing, transport propulsion systems. We demonstrate dynamic thermal control the surface topography LCE coatings achieved through pre-designed patterns in-plane orientation. These determine whether coating develops elevations, depressions, or deformations. The deterministic dependence out-of-plane...

We study the phase behavior of a charged two-dimensional colloidal system in presence periodic light field composed two interfering laser beams. Above certain intensity, initiates liquid-solid transition. This effect is known as light-induced freezing. When increased above critical value, however, induced crystal predicted to melt into modulated liquid again. In this paper we report first direct experimental observation reentrance phenomenon.

Microlenses are desired by a wide range of industrial applications while it is always challenging to make them with diffraction-limited quality. Here, shown that high-quality microlenses based on Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phases can be made liquid crystal polymers using plasmonic photopatterning technique. Based the generalized Snell's law for PB phases, focal lengths and f-numbers designed fabricated their point-spread functions ability image micrometer-sized particles carefully...

Abstract Laser‐induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) have become an important avenue towards nanopatterning and certain device applications due to their subwavelength feature size versatility with different materials. However, the uncontrollable non‐uniformity in achievable nanostructures presents a limit its practical application. Here, robust approach is proposed obtain controllable long‐range order based on new insight into one of electromagnetic origins nonuniformity LIPSS, namely...

The plasmon resonance of Au∕SiO2 multilayered nanodisks was studied using light scattering spectroscopy and numerical calculations. Compared to single layered Au nanodisks, exhibit several distinctive properties including significantly enhanced resonances tunable wavelengths which can be tailored desired values by simply varying dielectric layer thickness while the particle diameter is kept constant. Numerical calculations show that slicing one metal into multilayers leads higher intensity...

Periodic nanohole arrays are formed on a Ge substrate by self-assembly using focused ion beam sputtering at normal incidence with an energy of 5 keV. The figure shows SEM image hexagonally ordered hole domain that has quantum dots—20 nm diameter and 3 height—around each structured high surface area considerably blue-shifted gap.

We investigate the Brownian motion of boomerang colloidal particles confined between two glass plates. Our experimental observations show that mean displacements are biased towards center hydrodynamic stress (CoH), and mean-square exhibit a crossover from short-time faster to long-time slower diffusion with coefficients dependent on points used for tracking. A model based Langevin theory elucidates these behaviors ascribed superposition diffusive modes: ellipsoidal CoH rotational tracking...

In this paper, we demonstrate arrays of optical patch nanoantennas can convert light polarization through reflection. By breaking the azimuthal symmetry, elliptical plasmonic exhibit both even and odd cavity modes, which be expressed by Mathieu functions. It is shown that properly orienting incident polarization, a linearly polarized in resonance with one mode converted into an or circular after Since major modes excited at all angles, conversion these realized wide range angles.

Transport of fluids and particles at the microscale is an important theme in both fundamental applied science. One most successful approaches to use electric field, which requires system carry or induce charges. We describe a versatile approach generate electrokinetic flows by using liquid crystal (LC) with surface-patterned molecular orientation as electrolyte. The surface patterning produced photoalignment. In presence spatially varying induces space charges that trigger LC. active...

In this paper, we present experimental and numerical studies on the microstructures of a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) confined in rectangular micron-channels. By using sequence microfabrication techniques fabricated micro-sized channels with accurately controlled size, aspect ratio homeotropic surface anchoring. Through optical microscopic established phase diagram for defect textures as function channel depth width. For width larger than ∼2 times pitch p, LC molecules are oriented...

Controlling supramolecular self‐assembly in water‐based solutions is an important problem of interdisciplinary character that impacts the development many functional materials and systems. Significant progress aqueous templating has been demonstrated by using lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) as these show spontaneous orientational order caused unidirectional stacking plank‐like molecules into elongated aggregates. In this work, it alignment direction assemblies can be patterned...

Control of colloidal placement is achieved in nematic cells with photopatterned, spatially modulated molecular orientation.

Abstract Linear defect‐disclinations are of fundamental interest in understanding complex structures explored by soft matter physics, elementary particles cosmology, and various branches mathematics. These defects also practical importance materials applications, such as programmable origami, directed colloidal assembly, command active matter. Here an effective engineering approach is demonstrated to pattern molecular orientations at two flat confining surfaces that produce yet designable...

We report an experimental study on how topological defects induced by cylindrical air inclusions in the ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal RM734 are influenced ionic doping, including surfactant and polymer.

Abstract Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are highly stimuli‐responsive materials with programmable shape morphing via engineering molecular orientations. This study explores the buckling behavior of 3D‐printed LCE microtubes featuring topological defect profiles, revealing both wrinkled and unwrinkled buckling. The interplay between director field topology height‐radius ratio regulates mode. For a +1 profile, number wrinkles correlates inversely ratio, threshold set by soft elasticity....