Nanocomposites and nanomaterials

Helical systems built from anisotropic gold nanoparticles and liquid crystal matrix – preparation and physicochemical characteristic
Kowalska N.1, Bandalewicz F.1, Kowalski J.1, Lewandowski W.1
1 University of Warsaw, Chemistry Department, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland 
E-mail: natalia.m.kowalska@uw.edu.pl

In recent years, a large increase in interest in the subject of plasmonic chirality has been observed. Materials showing this phenomenon have great application potential in many fields of nanophotonics, such as the construction of optical sensors, circular plasmonic polarizers, or widely understood metamaterials. One example of natural chiral structures is the helix. In this work, we present the process of optimization and preparation of helical systems composed of anisotropic gold nanoparticles and a liquid crystal matrix, the structure of which has been confirmed by optical and electron microscopy. Research using atomic force microscopy showed the same handedness of the helices within individual domains. It raises high hopes that the approach used will open a new path towards the cheap production of materials with plasmonic chirality.

Figure 1 – Optimization process. TEM micrographs of helical systems, prepared in different conditions.