Plasmomechanics: A Colour-Changing Device Based on the Plasmonic Coupling of Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

We have carried out an experiment on a flexible polymeric substrate, coated with a monolayer of gold nanoparticles, which demonstrates how the combined effect of nanoparticle growth and stretching influences the average normalized gap between particles, thus modifying the extinction spectra of the sample. The study paves the way for the realization of a plasmonic strain sensor based on the plasmonic coupling of gold nanoparticles deposited onto elastomeric films: application of a mechanical stretching induces a change of colour of the device and a fine control of the applied strain allows a continuous tuning of the colour.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of the COST Action IC1208. www.ic1208.com. Financial support from the University of Geneva is kindly acknowledged.