Abstract
In this work we present a novel nanomaterial coating technique using evanescent wave (EW). The gradient force in the EW is used as an optical tweezer for tweezing and self-assembling nanoparticles on the source of EW. As a proof of the concept, we have used a laser coupled etched multimode optical fiber, which generates EW for the EW assisted coating. The section-wise etched multimode optical fiber is horizontally and superficially dipped into a silver/gold nanoparticles solution while the laser is switched on. The fiber is left until the solution recedes due to evaporation leaving the fiber in air. The coating time usually takes 40–50 min at room temperature. The scanning electron microscope image shows uniform and thin coating of self-assembled nanoparticles due to EW around the etched section. A coating thickness is achieved. The technique could be useful for making surface-plasmon-resonance-based optical fiber probes and other plasmonic circuits.
© 2013 Optical Society of America
Full Article | PDF ArticleOSA Recommended Articles
Li-Yang Shao, Jason P. Coyle, Seán T. Barry, and Jacques Albert
Opt. Mater. Express 1(2) 128-137 (2011)
Makoto Fujimaki, Ken-ichi Nomura, Kazuki Sato, Takafumi Kato, Subash C.B. Gopinath, Xiaomin Wang, Koichi Awazu, and Yoshimichi Ohki
Opt. Express 18(15) 15732-15740 (2010)
Lina Xu, Joseph C. Fanguy, Krunal Soni, and Shiquan Tao
Opt. Lett. 29(11) 1191-1193 (2004)