This work describes the morphological, optical, and thermo-optical properties of a temperature-sensitive hydrogel poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-isopropylmethacrylamide) [P(NIPAm-co-NIPMAm]) film containing a specific amount of gold nanorods (GNRs). The light-induced thermoplasmonic heating of GNRs is used to control the optical scattering of an initially transparent hydrogel film. A hydrated P(NIPAm-co-NIPMAm) film is optically clear at room temperature. When heated to temperatures over 37 °C via light irradiation with a resonant source (λ = 810 nm) to the GNRs, a reversible phase transition from a swollen hydrated state to a shrunken dehydrated state occurs. This phenomenon causes a drastic and reversible change in the optical transparency from a clear to an opaque state. A significant red shift (≈30 nm) of the longitudinal band can also be seen due to an increased average refractive index surrounding the GNRs. This change is in agreement with an ad hoc theoretical model which uses a modified Gans theory for ellipsoidal nanoparticles. Morphological analysis of the composite film shows the presence of well-isolated and randomly dispersed GNRs. Thermo-optical experiments demonstrate an all-optically controlled light attenuator (65% contrast ratio) which can be easily integrated in several modern optical applications such as smart windows and light-responsive optical attenuators.

Thermoplasmonic-activated hydrogel based dynamic light attenuator / Pierini, F.; Guglielmelli, A.; Urbanek, O.; Nakielski, P.; Pezzi, L.; Buda, R.; Lanzi, M.; Kowalewski, T. A.; De Sio, L.. - In: ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS. - ISSN 2195-1071. - (2020). [10.1002/adom.202000324]

Thermoplasmonic-activated hydrogel based dynamic light attenuator

De Sio L.
2020

Abstract

This work describes the morphological, optical, and thermo-optical properties of a temperature-sensitive hydrogel poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-isopropylmethacrylamide) [P(NIPAm-co-NIPMAm]) film containing a specific amount of gold nanorods (GNRs). The light-induced thermoplasmonic heating of GNRs is used to control the optical scattering of an initially transparent hydrogel film. A hydrated P(NIPAm-co-NIPMAm) film is optically clear at room temperature. When heated to temperatures over 37 °C via light irradiation with a resonant source (λ = 810 nm) to the GNRs, a reversible phase transition from a swollen hydrated state to a shrunken dehydrated state occurs. This phenomenon causes a drastic and reversible change in the optical transparency from a clear to an opaque state. A significant red shift (≈30 nm) of the longitudinal band can also be seen due to an increased average refractive index surrounding the GNRs. This change is in agreement with an ad hoc theoretical model which uses a modified Gans theory for ellipsoidal nanoparticles. Morphological analysis of the composite film shows the presence of well-isolated and randomly dispersed GNRs. Thermo-optical experiments demonstrate an all-optically controlled light attenuator (65% contrast ratio) which can be easily integrated in several modern optical applications such as smart windows and light-responsive optical attenuators.
2020
active plasmonics; gold nanorods, hydrogels; optical attenuators, optical transparency; plasmonic nanoparticles; polymers
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Thermoplasmonic-activated hydrogel based dynamic light attenuator / Pierini, F.; Guglielmelli, A.; Urbanek, O.; Nakielski, P.; Pezzi, L.; Buda, R.; Lanzi, M.; Kowalewski, T. A.; De Sio, L.. - In: ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS. - ISSN 2195-1071. - (2020). [10.1002/adom.202000324]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1405312
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