Noble metal nanoparticles have drawn great attention for a wide range of applications due to their unique localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties. The LSPR peak position and intensity can be tailored during the synthesis by varying the particle shape, size, and composition. Here, we present the electrochemically tunable LSPR behavior of gold nanocube (AuNC)@polyaniline (PANI) core/shell nanostructures. By applying an electrical potential, the refractive index of the PANI shell is reversibly changed, which in turn allows the reversible tuning of the LSPR of the AuNC core. With the core/shell nature of the AuNC@PANI nanostructure, AuNC cores are ensured to be in close contact with electroactive PANI shells, which provides a higher LSPR shift (24 nm) with a smaller amount of active media (PANI). In addition, the PANI shells effectively prevent the uncontrolled and undesirable coupling between AuNC cores. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) computer simulations show the most efficient LSPR shift can be caused with PANI shells thinner than the electromagnetic field decay length of the gold nanoparticles.

Responsive plasmonic behavior of electrically tunable gold nanocube@polyaniline core/shell nanostructures

251st National Meeting (2016)

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