Abstract
Light-induced mechanical response of materials has been extensively investigated and widely utilized to convert light energy into mechanical energy directly. The metallic nanomaterials have excellent photothermal properties and show enormous potential in micromechanical actuators, etc. However, the photo-thermo-mechanical properties of individual metallic nanostructures have yet to be well investigated. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a way to realize light-induced reversible expansion of individual gold nanoplates on optical microfibers. The light-induced thermal expansion coefficient is obtained as 21.4 ± 4.6 ∼ 31.5 ± 4.2 μ·K-1 when the light-induced heating temperature of the gold nanoplates is 240 ∼ 490 °C. The photo-thermo-mechanical response time of the gold nanoplates is about 0.3 ± 0.1 s. This insight into the photo-thermo-mechanical properties of the gold nanoplates could deepen the understanding of the light-induced reversible expansion behavior in nanoscale and pave the way for applications based on this piezoelectric-like response, such as light-driven metallic micromotors.
Highlights
Light, as one kind of ideal clean energy, can be used for controlling objects remotely, instantly, and precisely
Light-induced mechanical response of various kinds of materials is of significant interest since it provides a new and unexpected way to interact with their environment.[2]
Most of works focus on the light-induced shape transformation of metallic nanostructures in colloidal solutions or on a solid substrate under high laser power by measuring the absorption and scattering spectrum or comparing the initial and final shape of the structure with electron microscope.[21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34]
Summary
As one kind of ideal clean energy, can be used for controlling objects remotely, instantly, and precisely. Excitation with low-powered femtosecond optical pulses (i.e. in a non-thermal-equilibrium state) are investigated with the help of X-rays or electron diffraction techniques.[35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42] the photo-thermo-mechanical properties, e.g. the reversible photothermal expansion ability of individual metallic nanostructures in a thermal-equilibrium state, have yet to be well investigated. We experimentally demonstrate a way to realize light-induced reversible expansion of individual gold nanoplates on optical microfibers.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
