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Nature Communications,14(1), 8096.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-43511-9

■ Researchers

Jeongsu Pyeon

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

Park, S. M., Kim, J., Kim, J. H., Yoon, Y. J., Yoon, D. K., & Kim, H

■ Abstract

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are intriguing as a matrix for plasmonic metasurfaces made of gold nanorods (GNRs) because of their distinctive properties, including renewability, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and low cost. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to precisely regulate the positioning and orientation of CNCs on the substrate in a consistent pattern. In this study, CNCs and GNRs, which exhibit tunable optical and anti-icing capabilities, are employed to manufacture a uniform plasmonic metasurface using a drop-casting technique. Two physical phenomena—(i) spontaneous and rapid self-dewetting and (ii) evaporation-induced self-assembly—are used to accomplish this. Additionally, we improve the CNC-GNR ink composition and determine the crucial coating parameters necessary to balance the two physical mechanisms in order to produce thin films without coffee rings. The final homogeneous CNC-GNR film has consistent annular ring patterns with plasmonic quadrant hues that are properly aligned, which enhances plasmonic photothermal effects. The CNC-GNR multi-array platform offers above-zero temperatures on a substrate that is subcooled below the freezing point. The current study presents a physicochemical approach for functional nanomaterial-based CNC control.

• Plasmonic metasurfaces
• quadrants of aligned gold nanorods
• photothermal anti-icing

• [M-Terview] 김형수 교수(KAIST 기계공학과)