Examples of converting spin angular momenta of circularly polarized photons into structural changes in matter are rare and known to display a low enantiomeric excess (ee). Synthesis of metallic NPs with chiral structures is one of the most intriguing study in field of nanotechnology due to its surprisingly strong optical activities in the metal-based electronic transitions in the visible region. Here, we demonstrate that illumination of Au precursors in the presence of citric acid with right- (left-) handed circularly polarized light (CPL) induces the formation of chiral Au nanostructures. Despite seemingly irregular shape of the particles, the resulted colloids showed distinctive mirror-imaged opposite circular dichroism (CD) bands according to the handedness of illuminated CPL. Circular dichroic response and geometric chirality from these seemingly achiral structures were successfully demonstrated and quantified by implementing three-dimensional (3D) electron tomography (e-tomo) into computational model. The ability of Au nanostructures to retain the polarization information of incident photons can be applicable to light-absorbing materials, thus to create a variety of chiral nanomaterials. Similar examination of seemingly irregular NP through suggested chirality measure can also elucidate previously puzzling optical response from unclear geometric asymmetry of nanomaterials.<br/>

Circulary polarized light-driven assembly of gold nanostructures and their chirality measure

2019 Spring National Meeting

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