Plasmonics: Growth lamps for nanoparticles
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 - 08:31
in Physics & Chemistry
Just as gardeners can use 'growth lamps' to stimulate plant growth, materials scientists can now promote uniform growth of decahedron-shaped silver nanoparticles while they are in solution. These 10-faced solids, only tens of nanometers in size (see image), could enhance bio-imaging and biosensing techniques. The new photo-assisted method for use during crystal growth was developed by Xia Yu of the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology and collaborators in Hong Kong and Singapore.