Optically levitated nano-objects in vacuum are amongst the highest-quality mechanical oscillators, and thus of great interest for force sensing, cavity quantum optomechanics, and nanothermodynamic studies. These precision applications require exquisite control. Here, we present full control over the rotational and translational dynamics of an optically levitated silicon nanorod. We trap its centre-ofmass and align it along the linear polarization of the laser field. The rod can be set into rotation at a predefined frequency by exploiting the radiation pressure exerted by elliptically polarized light. The rotational motion of the rod dynamically modifies the optical potential, which allows tuning of the rotational frequency over hundreds of Kilohertz. Through nanofabrication, we can tailor all of the trapping frequencies and the optical torque, achieving reproducible dynamics which are stable over months, and analytically predict the motion with great accuracy. This first demonstration of full ro-translational control of nanoparticles in vacuum opens up the fields of rotational optomechanics, rotational ground state cooling and the study of rotational thermodynamics in the underdamped regime.

Nanomechanical devices have attracted the interest of a growing interdisciplinary research community, since they can be used as highly sensitive transducers for various physical quantities. Exquisite control over these systems facilitates experiments on the foundations of physics. Here, we demonstrate that an optically trapped silicon nanorod, set into rotation at MHz frequencies, can be locked to an external clock, transducing the properties of the time standard to the rod’s motion with a remarkable frequency stability f r/Δf r of 7.7 × 1011. While the dynamics of this periodically driven rotor generally can be chaotic, we derive and verify that stable limit cycles exist over a surprisingly wide parameter range. This robustness should enable, in principle, measurements of external torques with sensitivities better than 0.25 zNm, even at room temperature. We show that in a dilute gas, real-time phase measurements on the locked nanorod transduce pressure values with a sensitivity of 0.3%.

Optical control of nanoscale objects has recently developed into a thriving field of research with far-reaching promises for precision measurements, fundamental quantum physics and studies on single-particle thermodynamics. Here, we demonstrate the optical manipulation of silicon nanorods in high vacuum. Initially, we sculpture these particles into a silicon substrate with a tailored geometry to facilitate their launch into high vacuum by laser-induced mechanical cleavage. We manipulate and trace their center-of-mass and rotational motion through the interaction with an intense intracavity field. Our experiments show that the anisotropy of the nanorotors leads to optical forces that are three times stronger than on silicon nanospheres of the same mass. The optical torque experienced by the spinning rods will enable cooling of the rotational motion and torsional optomechanics in a dissipation-free environment.

Time-resolved emission techniques were employed to study the reversible proton photoprotolytic properties of surface-attached 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate (HPTS) molecules to hydrophilic alumina and silica surfaces. We found that the excitedstate proton transfer rate of the surface-linked HPTS molecules, in H 2 O and D 2 O, is nearly the same as of HPTS in the bulk, while the corresponding recombination rate is significantly greater. Using the diffusion-assisted proton geminate-recombination model, we found that the best fit of the time-resolved fluorescence (TRF) signal is obtained by invoking a twodimensional diffusion space for the proton to recombine with the conjugated basic form, RO − *, of the surface-linked HPTS. However, we obtain an excellent fit by a three-dimensional diffusion space for diffusional HPTS in bulk water. These results indicate that the photoejected solvated protons are confined to the surface for long periods of time. We suggest two plausible mechanisms responsible for two-dimensional proton diffusion next to hydrophilic surfaces.

The analysis of biosamples, e.g., blood, is a ubiquitous task of proteomics, genomics, and biosensing fields; yet, it still faces multiple challenges, one of the greatest being the selective separation and detection of target proteins from these complex biosamples. Here, we demonstrate the development of an on-chip light-triggered reusable nanostructured selective and quantitative protein separation and preconcentration platform for the direct analysis of complex biosamples. The on-chip selective separation of required protein analytes from raw biosamples is performed using antibody−photoacid-modified Si nanopillars vertical arrays (SiNPs) of ultralarge binding surface area and enormously high binding affinity, followed by the light-controlled rapid release of the tightly bound target proteins in a controlled liquid media. Two important experimental observations are presented: (1) the first demonstration on the control of biological reaction binding affinity by the nanostructuring of the capturing surface, leading to highly efficient protein collection capabilities, and (2) the light-triggered switching of the highly sticky binding surfaces into highly reflective nonbinding surfaces, leading to the rapid and quantitative release of the originally tightly bound protein species. Both of these two novel behaviors were theoretically and experimentally investigated. Importantly, this is the first demonstration of a three-dimensional (3D) SiNPs on-chip filter with ultralarge binding surface area and reversible light-controlled quantitative release of adsorbed biomolecules for direct purification of blood samples, able to selectively collect and separate specific low abundant proteins, while easily removing unwanted blood components (proteins, cells) and achieving desalting results, without the requirement of time-consuming centrifugation steps, the use of desalting membranes, or affinity columns.