A Review on Inorganic Nanostructure Self-Assembly

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the self-assembly process for the fabrication of micro- and nano-scale structures for various device applications. The success of these applications requires the development of a versatile assembly process for producing large area ordered arrays. In this article, we review recent advances, particularly related to photonic material and device applications, based on self-assembly processes, with the focus on the processes for inorganic structure self assembly. We first discuss major forces guiding the particle self-assembly in the wet coating technology. Then we review device applications and recent advances based on three kinds of wet coating technologies, including dip coating, spin coating and convective coating. Finally, a conclusion will be given, with discussions given on future perspectives.

Surface feature engineering through nanosphere lithography

“…For the subsurface nanospheres, this increased concentration tends to promote deposition along with the prepatterned monolayers thus, this vessel is more likely to produce multilayered depositions if concentrations are not carefully maintained. Both of these formations have value in applying NSL to surface geometry control, which is another point mentioned by Wang and Zhou 4 and others, 24 and will be examined further when discussing results.…”

“…A summary of this topic has been recently published by Dr. Wang from the University of Texas at Arlington. 4 This work outlines, not only the various methods that have been explored and relative degrees of successes, but also discusses much of the underlying forces at work. A brief summary of the three predominant deposition methods are shown in Fig.…”

“…In the case of nanospheres, however, we do not have the ability to easily control viscosity and adhesion; instead we must rely on manipulating interparticle forces to attempt to mimic control of these factors. Considering the wide variety of both nanosphere materials used, substrates they are applied to, size of the nanospheres, and other factors outlined by Wang et al, 4 the repeatability of this process is highly dependent on surface and material treatments and those treatments must be addressed on a case-by-case basis. 4 This is further illustrated in Fig.…”

“…Considering the wide variety of both nanosphere materials used, substrates they are applied to, size of the nanospheres, and other factors outlined by Wang et al, 4 the repeatability of this process is highly dependent on surface and material treatments and those treatments must be addressed on a case-by-case basis. 4 This is further illustrated in Fig. 1(a), where self-assembly of nanospheres depends on controlling multiple forces not only between spheres, but also between the spheres and the substrate surface.…”

Tailored Aggregate-Free Au Nanoparticle Decorations with Sharp Plasmonic Peaks on a U-Type Optical Fiber Sensor by Nanosecond Laser Irradiation

“…For our experiments, we chose the U-shape fiber geometry over the straight one, because it offers a larger evanescent wave (and thus, penetration depth for sensing) in the bent area [27]. Our method, specifically, involves a first step of exposing the fiber core and forming it into a U-shape, which will constitute the Bactive area,^followed by a chemical-free self-assembly immobilization process based on dip-coating the U-type active area in a solution containing mono-dispersed MNPs [28]. The second step involves the optimization of the LSPR extinction spectra by irradiating the MNP-covered active area with a 5-ns pulsed laser at 532 nm.…”