Shape-Dependent Oriented
Trapping and Scaffolding
of Plasmonic Nanoparticles by Topological Defects for Self-Assembly
of Colloidal Dimers in Liquid Crystals
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Abstract
We demonstrate scaffolding of plasmonic nanoparticles
by topological
defects induced by colloidal microspheres to match their surface boundary
conditions with a uniform far-field alignment in a liquid crystal
host. Displacing energetically costly liquid crystal regions of reduced
order, anisotropic nanoparticles with concave or convex shapes not
only stably localize in defects but also self-orient with respect
to the microsphere surface. Using laser tweezers, we manipulate the
ensuing nanoparticle-microsphere colloidal dimers, probing the strength
of elastic binding and demonstrating self-assembly of hierarchical
colloidal superstructures such as chains and arrays