Optical Trapping-Formed Colloidal Assembly with Horns Extended to the Outside of a Focus through Light Propagation

We report optical trapping and assembling of colloidal particles at a glass/solution interface with a tightly focused laser beam of high intensity. It is generally believed that the particles are gathered only in an irradiated area where optical force is exerted on the particles by laser beam. Here we demonstrate that, the propagation of trapping laser from the focus to the outside of the formed assembly leads to expansion of the assembly much larger than the irradiated area with sticking out rows of linearly aligned particles like horns. The shape of the assembly, its structure, and the number of horns can be controlled by laser polarization. Optical trapping study utilizing the light propagation will open a new avenue for assembling and crystallizing quantum dots, metal nanoparticles, molecular clusters, proteins, and DNA

Optical Trapping-Formed Colloidal Assembly with Horns Extended to the Outside of a Focus through Light Propagation

We report optical trapping and assembling of colloidal particles at a glass/solution interface with a tightly focused laser beam of high intensity. It is generally believed that the particles are gathered only in an irradiated area where optical force is exerted on the particles by laser beam. Here we demonstrate that, the propagation of trapping laser from the focus to the outside of the formed assembly leads to expansion of the assembly much larger than the irradiated area with sticking out rows of linearly aligned particles like horns. The shape of the assembly, its structure, and the number of horns can be controlled by laser polarization. Optical trapping study utilizing the light propagation will open a new avenue for assembling and crystallizing quantum dots, metal nanoparticles, molecular clusters, proteins, and DNA

Optical Trapping-Formed Colloidal Assembly with Horns Extended to the Outside of a Focus through Light Propagation

We report optical trapping and assembling of colloidal particles at a glass/solution interface with a tightly focused laser beam of high intensity. It is generally believed that the particles are gathered only in an irradiated area where optical force is exerted on the particles by laser beam. Here we demonstrate that, the propagation of trapping laser from the focus to the outside of the formed assembly leads to expansion of the assembly much larger than the irradiated area with sticking out rows of linearly aligned particles like horns. The shape of the assembly, its structure, and the number of horns can be controlled by laser polarization. Optical trapping study utilizing the light propagation will open a new avenue for assembling and crystallizing quantum dots, metal nanoparticles, molecular clusters, proteins, and DNA

Reflection Microspectroscopic Study of Laser Trapping Assembling of Polystyrene Nanoparticles at Air/Solution Interface

We present the formation of a single nanoparticle assembly with periodic array structure induced by laser trapping of 200 nm polystyrene nanoparticles at air/solution interface of the colloidal heavy water solution. Their trapping and assembling behavior is observed by monitoring transmission and backscattering images and measuring reflection spectra under a microscope. Upon the laser irradiation into the solution surface layer, nanoparticles are gathered at and around the focal spot, and eventually a nanoparticle assembly with the size much larger than the focal volume is formed. The assembly gives structural color in visible range under halogen lamp illumination, indicating that constituent nanoparticles are periodically arrayed. Reflection spectra of the assembly show a reflection band, and its peak position is gradually shifted to short wavelength and the bandwidth becomes narrow with time, depending on the distance from the focal spot. After the laser is switched off, red-shift is observed in the reflection band. These results indicate that nanoparticles are rearranged into a densely packed periodic array during laser irradiation and diffused out to the surrounding solution after turning off the laser. These dynamics are discussed from the viewpoints of the attractive optical trapping force and the electrostatic repulsive force among nanoparticles

Reflection Microspectroscopic Study of Laser Trapping Assembling of Polystyrene Nanoparticles at Air/Solution Interface

We present the formation of a single nanoparticle assembly with periodic array structure induced by laser trapping of 200 nm polystyrene nanoparticles at air/solution interface of the colloidal heavy water solution. Their trapping and assembling behavior is observed by monitoring transmission and backscattering images and measuring reflection spectra under a microscope. Upon the laser irradiation into the solution surface layer, nanoparticles are gathered at and around the focal spot, and eventually a nanoparticle assembly with the size much larger than the focal volume is formed. The assembly gives structural color in visible range under halogen lamp illumination, indicating that constituent nanoparticles are periodically arrayed. Reflection spectra of the assembly show a reflection band, and its peak position is gradually shifted to short wavelength and the bandwidth becomes narrow with time, depending on the distance from the focal spot. After the laser is switched off, red-shift is observed in the reflection band. These results indicate that nanoparticles are rearranged into a densely packed periodic array during laser irradiation and diffused out to the surrounding solution after turning off the laser. These dynamics are discussed from the viewpoints of the attractive optical trapping force and the electrostatic repulsive force among nanoparticles

Optically Evolved Assembly Formation in Laser Trapping of Polystyrene Nanoparticles at Solution Surface

Assembling dynamics of polystyrene nanoparticles by optical trapping is studied with utilizing transmission/reflection microscopy and reflection microspectroscopy. A single nanoparticle assembly with periodic structure is formed upon the focused laser irradiation at solution surface layer and continuously grows up to a steady state within few minutes. By controlling nanoparticle and salt concentrations in the colloidal solution, the assembling behavior is obviously changed. In the high concentration of nanoparticles, the assembly formation exhibits fast growth, gives large saturation size, and leads to dense packing structure. In the presence of salt, one assembly with the elongated aggregates was generated from the focal spot and 1064 nm trapping light was scattered outwardly with directions, while a small circular assembly and symmetrical expansion of the 1064 nm light were found without salt. The present nanoparticle assembling in optical trapping is driven through multiple scattering in gathered nanoparticles and directional scattering along the elongated aggregates derived from optical association of nanoparticles, which dynamic phenomenon is called optically evolved assembling. Repetitive trapping and release processes of nanoparticles between the assembly and the surrounding solution always proceed, and the steady state at the circular assembly formed by laser trapping is determined under optical and chemical equilibrium