3D quantification of the morphology of metal nanoparticles and connection with optical properties.

Inorganic nanoparticles and nanostructures with complex morphologies have gained increasing scientific interest, because of the possibility to tune their ability to interact (polarized) light. In some cases, the optical activity is hypothesized to originate from a specific morphology of the nanomaterial. However, quantifying the morphology of objects with sizes of tens of nanometers is far from straightforward. Electron tomography offers the possibility to faithfully retrieve the three-dimensional morphology of nanomaterials, but only a qualitative interpretation of the morphology of nanoparticles has been possible so far. I recently introduced a method to quantify the helicity of complex nanomaterials at the single particle level starting from high-quality electron tomography reconstructions. However, in order to provide significant insights into the fundamental origin of optical properties, further progress is required. Therefore, I will apply quantitative electron tomography (EMAT, University of Antwerp) and perform ensemble and single particle VIS-NIR spectroscopy (AMOLF Institute, Amsterdam). By combining these results, I will carry out a systematic investigation of different types of nanoparticles prepared in the group of Professor Luis Liz-Marzán (CICBiomagune, San Sebastián). I envisage that I will provide critical feedback to improve the synthesis and the optical activity of these exciting materials.

Keywords:NANOMATERIALS

Disciplines:Nanophysics and nanosystems, Optical properties and interactions with radiation, Condensed matter physics and nanophysics not elsewhere classified, Materials physics not elsewhere classified, Photonics, optoelectronics and optical communications