Self-assembly of Gold Nanoparticles into an Adjustable Plasmonic 3D Lattice using Janus-type Forked Mesogenic Ligands

We report the formation of a 3D body-centred self-assembled superlattice of gold nanoparticles whose interparticle gap, and hence its plasmonic properties, are adjustable exclusively in the xy-plane. Thus, even though the particles are spherical, their anisotropic packing generates tailorable plasmonic dichroism. The gold nanoparticles are coated with forked ligands containing two mesogens: either two cholesterols (“twin”), one cholesterol and one azobenzene (“Janus”), or a mixture of the two. Beside the body-centered arrangement of gold nanoparticles, the structure also contains unusual two-dimensionally x-y dual undulated (eggbox-like) smectic-like layers of mesogens. Moreover, the presence of azobenzene mesogens allows the superlattice to be melted through UV-induced photo-isomerization; the process is reversible displaying low fatigue on repeated cycling.