Self assembly of two dimensional colloidal alloys for metamaterials applications
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Hull
Department Name: Physical Sciences
Abstract
The systematic design and construction of materials and devices based on structure at the nanometer scale is a key challenge for materials science research in the 21st century. In particular, a major challenge in this area is to engineer metal/dielectric composite structures on the nanometer scale (below the wavelength of light) as this leads to a new class of materials, collectively known as metamaterials, which exhibit unusual optical properties such as negative permeability and refractive index. These unique optical properties allow us to manipulate light to an unprecedented degree, opening new areas of research such as perfect lenses, nanophotonic devices, integrated optical circuits, high efficiency solar cells, bio-sensors etc. However a serious bottleneck in metamaterials research is that the metal/dielectric nanostructures used for metamaterials applications have traditionally been fabricated using 'top down' approaches such as electron-beam lithography or focused ion beam lithography which are expensive, slow and limited in terms of the smallest features that can be made. In recent years, self-assembly has emerged as an alternative 'bottom-up' method for making micro- and nano-structured materials which is versatile, fast and inexpensive. This approach becomes particularly powerful when the self-assembly involves two or more components with a variety of optical, electronic and magnetic properties.
In a recent ground-breaking study, we showed that it is possible to obtain a rich variety of 2D binary crystal structures through the self-assembly of mixtures of hydrophobic and hydrophilic spherical silica particles at an oil/water interface. The aim of the project is to extend our self-assembly method by replacing the hydrophilic silica particles with metallic particles of different shapes (e.g., spherical and rod shaped) and sizes (micron to nanometer) in order to create dielectric/metal composite structures for metamaterials applications. In order to achieve this aim, we use a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates both theory and experiment to study the self-assembly and optical properties of mixed colloidal monolayers.
Specifically we will first study the interactions between different types of colloids at a liquid interface in order to establish the relationship between particle properties (e.g., material, wettability, shape and size) and particle interactions. This will allow us to tune particle interactions by changing particle properties. Next, we will study how these interactions control the self assembly of mixed monolayers in order to obtain the design rules for obtaining specific composite structures. We will then analyse the optical response of such mixed monolayers in order to identify the most promising structures for metamaterials applications. Finally, having identified and created the desired micro and nano scale metamaterials, as a specific application, we will deposit active materials such as conjugated polymers or colloidal quantum dots on top of these metamaterials to investigate how the metamaterial modifies the emission intensity and directionality of the active material. This will allow us to create hybrid plasmonic structures that will form the building blocks for the next generation of nanophotonic devices.
In a recent ground-breaking study, we showed that it is possible to obtain a rich variety of 2D binary crystal structures through the self-assembly of mixtures of hydrophobic and hydrophilic spherical silica particles at an oil/water interface. The aim of the project is to extend our self-assembly method by replacing the hydrophilic silica particles with metallic particles of different shapes (e.g., spherical and rod shaped) and sizes (micron to nanometer) in order to create dielectric/metal composite structures for metamaterials applications. In order to achieve this aim, we use a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates both theory and experiment to study the self-assembly and optical properties of mixed colloidal monolayers.
Specifically we will first study the interactions between different types of colloids at a liquid interface in order to establish the relationship between particle properties (e.g., material, wettability, shape and size) and particle interactions. This will allow us to tune particle interactions by changing particle properties. Next, we will study how these interactions control the self assembly of mixed monolayers in order to obtain the design rules for obtaining specific composite structures. We will then analyse the optical response of such mixed monolayers in order to identify the most promising structures for metamaterials applications. Finally, having identified and created the desired micro and nano scale metamaterials, as a specific application, we will deposit active materials such as conjugated polymers or colloidal quantum dots on top of these metamaterials to investigate how the metamaterial modifies the emission intensity and directionality of the active material. This will allow us to create hybrid plasmonic structures that will form the building blocks for the next generation of nanophotonic devices.
Planned Impact
The UK is internationally leading in the areas of colloid science and photonics. This proposal aims to combine these two world leading research areas to develop a novel colloidal self-assembly method that is versatile, fast and inexpensive in order to create electromagnetically inhomogeneous materials for advanced photonic applications. The proposal therefore makes a step change contribution to the EPSRC's vision to create a strong materials science base in the UK which is internationally leading in originality but also transformatory and applicable. The project also aligns with the EPSRC Grand Challenge themes of "Nanoscale Design of Functional Materials" and "Directed Assembly of Extended Structures" as well as the EPSRC research areas of "Photonic materials and metamaterials", "Light matter interaction and optical phenomenon" and "Biophysics and soft matter physics".
The ability to control structure on the nanoscale opens up new and exciting opportunities for the design of advanced functional materials which will benefit the UK economy in both the medium and long term. In particular, the ability to control the structure of electromagnetically inhomogeneous materials on the micro and nanoscales promises to revolutionise the way we transport and manipulate light from the IR to visible regime. This capability is particularly pressing given that current computing technology based on electron transport is reaching its speed and capacity limit. This limit is predominantly due to the thermal and signal delay associated with the electronic interconnection in integrated circuit technology. Using light to transport and process information can provide a solution to this problem as light based devices would be faster and more energy efficient than electron based devices with at least four orders of magnitude in bandwidth to power ratio. In addition, the development of metamaterials for visible light will make it possible to confine light below the optical diffraction limit, a critical step towards photonic miniaturization that will allow photonics to catch up with Moore's law for electronics and pave the way and new applications such as integrated optical circuits.
The project will train two PDRAs in conducting world class academic research within the context of an interdisciplinary team. Another key impact of the project is therefore to produce highly trained and versatile research personnel who will be able to contribute to the UK and global knowledge based economy. Finally, the project will provide striking examples of how self-assembly can be used to design new structures and materials. The project outcomes therefore naturally lend themselves to public engagement activities, illustrating both the usefulness and beauty of science.
The ability to control structure on the nanoscale opens up new and exciting opportunities for the design of advanced functional materials which will benefit the UK economy in both the medium and long term. In particular, the ability to control the structure of electromagnetically inhomogeneous materials on the micro and nanoscales promises to revolutionise the way we transport and manipulate light from the IR to visible regime. This capability is particularly pressing given that current computing technology based on electron transport is reaching its speed and capacity limit. This limit is predominantly due to the thermal and signal delay associated with the electronic interconnection in integrated circuit technology. Using light to transport and process information can provide a solution to this problem as light based devices would be faster and more energy efficient than electron based devices with at least four orders of magnitude in bandwidth to power ratio. In addition, the development of metamaterials for visible light will make it possible to confine light below the optical diffraction limit, a critical step towards photonic miniaturization that will allow photonics to catch up with Moore's law for electronics and pave the way and new applications such as integrated optical circuits.
The project will train two PDRAs in conducting world class academic research within the context of an interdisciplinary team. Another key impact of the project is therefore to produce highly trained and versatile research personnel who will be able to contribute to the UK and global knowledge based economy. Finally, the project will provide striking examples of how self-assembly can be used to design new structures and materials. The project outcomes therefore naturally lend themselves to public engagement activities, illustrating both the usefulness and beauty of science.
Organisations
- University of Hull (Lead Research Organisation)
- QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON (Collaboration)
- Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (Collaboration)
- Amires (Collaboration)
- University of Siegen (Collaboration)
- LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- AMO GMBH (Collaboration)
- Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) (Collaboration)
- University of Technology of Troyes (Collaboration)
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE) (Collaboration)
- Materials Physics Center (CSIC-UPV/EHU) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
Publications
Marshall A
(2019)
Probing the Molecular Orientation of a Single Conjugated Polymer via Nanogap SERS
in ACS Applied Polymer Materials
Hamza AO
(2021)
Förster Resonance Energy Transfer and the Local Optical Density of States in Plasmonic Nanogaps.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Hamza AO
(2023)
Long-Range and High-Efficiency Plasmon-Assisted Förster Resonance Energy Transfer.
in The journal of physical chemistry. C, Nanomaterials and interfaces
Hamza A
(2022)
Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Rate and Efficiency in Plasmonic Nanopatch Antennas
in ChemPhotoChem
Description | 1. Developed a new theory (Density Functional Theory) that can predict the structure of mixed micro and nano-particle mono-layers at a liquid interface. This will enable us to design new structures and next generation smart materials. The details of this method has been published (Somerville et al, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter, 2018, 30, 405102; Scacchi et al, Physical Review Research, 2020, 2, 032043). 2. Developed Monte Carlo simulation method that can accurately predict the structure of hard-core/soft-shell systems at a liquid interface. This will enable us to design new structures and next generation smart materials. The details of this method has been published (Rey et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2017, 139, 17464; Rey et al, Langmuir, 2018, 34, 9990). 3. Developed improved theoretical method for calculating the optical refractive index of a material from optical absorption measurements over a limited wavelength range. This method will be very useful to the scientific community as direct measurement of refractive index is generally more difficult compared to absorbance measurements for most materials. The details of this method will be submitted for publication soon. 4. Discovered experimental method for making silica micro-particles strongly charged at a liquid interface. This will enable us to design new structures and next generation smart materials. The details of this method will be submitted for publication soon. |
Exploitation Route | In terms of key finding 1, we have collaborated with Prof Andrew Archer in University of Loughborough and developed the density functional theory further. In terms of key finding 4, we have two University of Hull funded PhD studentships and an EU H2020 grant Poseidon which will take the method further for using the method to design next-generation on-chip light sources for optical computing. |
Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) |
Description | (POSEIDON) - NanoPhOtonic devices applying SElf-assembled colloIDs for novel ON-chip light sources |
Amount | € 3,164,363 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 861950 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 01/2020 |
End | 12/2023 |
Description | University of Hull PhD Scholarships |
Amount | £126,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Hull |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 09/2021 |
Description | Collaboration with Andrew Archer |
Organisation | Loughborough University |
Department | Department of Computer Science |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have performed computer simulations for the self-assembly of binary interfacial colloids. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Archer has performed density functional theory calculations of the self-assembly of binary interfacial colloids. |
Impact | No outputs yet. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Collaboration with Lorenzo Botto |
Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
Department | School of Engineering and Materials Science |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Performed finite element calculations for the self-assembly of magnetic ellipsoidal particles. |
Collaborator Contribution | Performed analytical calculations for the self-assembly of magnetic ellipsoidal particles. |
Impact | No outputs yet. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Collaboration with Prof Luis Liz-Marzan |
Organisation | Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE) |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Our consortium will incorporate the gold nanospheres and nanorods supplied by Prof Luis Liz-Marzan into mixed monolayers to create plasmonic structures. We will also perform theoretical modelling to predict the resultant self-assembled plasmonic structures. |
Collaborator Contribution | Prof Luis Liz-Marzan (CIC-biomaGUNE, San Sebastien, Spain) has sent us gold nanospheres and nanorods |
Impact | Work in progress. Multidisciplinary: nanoparticle synthesis, colloid and interface science, theory of soft matter, nanophotonics. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Collaboration with Prof Nicolas Vogel, University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Germany |
Organisation | Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My team and I theoretically modelled the self-assembly of core-shell particles to underpin experimental studies of this system performed by Prof Vogel and his team. |
Collaborator Contribution | Prof Vogel and his team studied the self-assembly of core-shell particles experimentally. |
Impact | Publications: 1. Anisotropic Self-Assembly from Isotropic Colloidal Building Blocks, M. Rey, A. D. Law, D. M. A. Buzza, N. Vogel, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2017, 139, 17464-17473. This is a multidisciplinary collaboration involving Physics and Chemistry. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Collaboration with UTT |
Organisation | University of Technology of Troyes |
Department | Factory Automation Systems and Technologies Laboratory |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Sample exchanges, student exchanges, creation of an Erasmus agreement with UTT, agreement between Hull university and UTT to fund a joint postdoc for 1 year |
Collaborator Contribution | Sample exchanges, student exchanges, creation of an Erasmus agreement with UTT, agreement between Hull university and UTT to fund a joint postdoc for 1 year |
Impact | Creation of an Erasmus agreement with UTT, agreement between Hull university and UTT to fund a joint postdoc for 1 year |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | ICONIC |
Organisation | Amires |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Coordinated a Horizon2020 FET Open Submission on 'Integrated self-assembly of colloids as a radically new approach to nanophotonics' (ICONIC). Submitted 26/9/2017. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to different work packages in the submission. |
Impact | Our submission was not successful, but the grant allowed us to build useful collaborations with other EU partners which are still on-going. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | ICONIC |
Organisation | Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE) |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Coordinated a Horizon2020 FET Open Submission on 'Integrated self-assembly of colloids as a radically new approach to nanophotonics' (ICONIC). Submitted 26/9/2017. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to different work packages in the submission. |
Impact | Our submission was not successful, but the grant allowed us to build useful collaborations with other EU partners which are still on-going. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | ICONIC |
Organisation | Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Coordinated a Horizon2020 FET Open Submission on 'Integrated self-assembly of colloids as a radically new approach to nanophotonics' (ICONIC). Submitted 26/9/2017. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to different work packages in the submission. |
Impact | Our submission was not successful, but the grant allowed us to build useful collaborations with other EU partners which are still on-going. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | ICONIC |
Organisation | Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Coordinated a Horizon2020 FET Open Submission on 'Integrated self-assembly of colloids as a radically new approach to nanophotonics' (ICONIC). Submitted 26/9/2017. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to different work packages in the submission. |
Impact | Our submission was not successful, but the grant allowed us to build useful collaborations with other EU partners which are still on-going. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | ICONIC |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Department | Department of Genetics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Coordinated a Horizon2020 FET Open Submission on 'Integrated self-assembly of colloids as a radically new approach to nanophotonics' (ICONIC). Submitted 26/9/2017. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to different work packages in the submission. |
Impact | Our submission was not successful, but the grant allowed us to build useful collaborations with other EU partners which are still on-going. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | ICONIC |
Organisation | University of Siegen |
Department | Macromolecular Chemistry |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Coordinated a Horizon2020 FET Open Submission on 'Integrated self-assembly of colloids as a radically new approach to nanophotonics' (ICONIC). Submitted 26/9/2017. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to different work packages in the submission. |
Impact | Our submission was not successful, but the grant allowed us to build useful collaborations with other EU partners which are still on-going. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | POSEIDON |
Organisation | AMO GmbH |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | We are part of a Horizon 2020 FET Open Submission on 'NanoPhOtonic devices applying SElf-assembled colloIDs for novel ON-chip light sources' (POSEIDON). Submitted 24 Jan 2019. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to different work packages in the submission. |
Impact | Will be informed of outcome within 5 months of submission. This collaboration is multidisciplinary involving computer modelling and design of colloids (HULL), photonic devices (CISC, AMO), nanoparticle synthesis (USIEGEN, CIC), self-assembly (HULL, FAU), semiconductor integration (AMO) and device research (UCAM). |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | POSEIDON |
Organisation | Amires |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We are part of a Horizon 2020 FET Open Submission on 'NanoPhOtonic devices applying SElf-assembled colloIDs for novel ON-chip light sources' (POSEIDON). Submitted 24 Jan 2019. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to different work packages in the submission. |
Impact | Will be informed of outcome within 5 months of submission. This collaboration is multidisciplinary involving computer modelling and design of colloids (HULL), photonic devices (CISC, AMO), nanoparticle synthesis (USIEGEN, CIC), self-assembly (HULL, FAU), semiconductor integration (AMO) and device research (UCAM). |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | POSEIDON |
Organisation | Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE) |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | We are part of a Horizon 2020 FET Open Submission on 'NanoPhOtonic devices applying SElf-assembled colloIDs for novel ON-chip light sources' (POSEIDON). Submitted 24 Jan 2019. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to different work packages in the submission. |
Impact | Will be informed of outcome within 5 months of submission. This collaboration is multidisciplinary involving computer modelling and design of colloids (HULL), photonic devices (CISC, AMO), nanoparticle synthesis (USIEGEN, CIC), self-assembly (HULL, FAU), semiconductor integration (AMO) and device research (UCAM). |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | POSEIDON |
Organisation | Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are part of a Horizon 2020 FET Open Submission on 'NanoPhOtonic devices applying SElf-assembled colloIDs for novel ON-chip light sources' (POSEIDON). Submitted 24 Jan 2019. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to different work packages in the submission. |
Impact | Will be informed of outcome within 5 months of submission. This collaboration is multidisciplinary involving computer modelling and design of colloids (HULL), photonic devices (CISC, AMO), nanoparticle synthesis (USIEGEN, CIC), self-assembly (HULL, FAU), semiconductor integration (AMO) and device research (UCAM). |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | POSEIDON |
Organisation | Materials Physics Center (CSIC-UPV/EHU) |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are part of a Horizon 2020 FET Open Submission on 'NanoPhOtonic devices applying SElf-assembled colloIDs for novel ON-chip light sources' (POSEIDON). Submitted 24 Jan 2019. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to different work packages in the submission. |
Impact | Will be informed of outcome within 5 months of submission. This collaboration is multidisciplinary involving computer modelling and design of colloids (HULL), photonic devices (CISC, AMO), nanoparticle synthesis (USIEGEN, CIC), self-assembly (HULL, FAU), semiconductor integration (AMO) and device research (UCAM). |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | POSEIDON |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are part of a Horizon 2020 FET Open Submission on 'NanoPhOtonic devices applying SElf-assembled colloIDs for novel ON-chip light sources' (POSEIDON). Submitted 24 Jan 2019. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to different work packages in the submission. |
Impact | Will be informed of outcome within 5 months of submission. This collaboration is multidisciplinary involving computer modelling and design of colloids (HULL), photonic devices (CISC, AMO), nanoparticle synthesis (USIEGEN, CIC), self-assembly (HULL, FAU), semiconductor integration (AMO) and device research (UCAM). |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | POSEIDON |
Organisation | University of Siegen |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are part of a Horizon 2020 FET Open Submission on 'NanoPhOtonic devices applying SElf-assembled colloIDs for novel ON-chip light sources' (POSEIDON). Submitted 24 Jan 2019. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to different work packages in the submission. |
Impact | Will be informed of outcome within 5 months of submission. This collaboration is multidisciplinary involving computer modelling and design of colloids (HULL), photonic devices (CISC, AMO), nanoparticle synthesis (USIEGEN, CIC), self-assembly (HULL, FAU), semiconductor integration (AMO) and device research (UCAM). |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Hull Science Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Members of the consortium ran a stand on Soft Matter at Hull Science Festival (18, 19 March 2016) which included two demonstrations (('A random walk through mathematics and physics' and 'The subtle science of soft slimy stuff'). Over 500 people visited the stand, including school children (late primary, early secondary) and members of the public. These sparked a lot of interest and an increased interest in science amongst school children, a large proportion of whom were female. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |