| Apr 10, 2025 |
Cost-effective chiral nanostructures enable precise light control at the nanoscale, advancing applications in sensing, imaging, and emerging quantum technologies.
(Nanowerk News) Researchers from ICMAB are revolutionizing how we manipulate light at the nanoscale using chiral plasmonic structures—nanomaterials designed to interact with polarized light in extraordinary ways. ICMAB researchers from the NANOPTO group at ICMAB have recently published two groundbreaking studies demonstrating how cost-effective fabrication techniques can produce highly efficient chiral nanostructures with potential applications in sensors, imaging, and even quantum technologies.
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A first study, published in Nature Communications (“Chiral plasmonic superlattices from template-assisted assembly of achiral nanoparticles”), showcases self-assembled chiral plasmonic architectures (triskelion patterns) made from gold and silver nanoparticles. These structures demonstrate exceptional optical responses, selectively interacting with circularly polarized light, opening up exciting possibilities for advanced optoelectronic devices.
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| Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of an array formed by 45 nm colloidal Au nanoparticles self-assembled into chiral motifs, in this case triskelions, fabricated using a template-assisted self-assembly method. (Image: Adapted from Nature Communications 16, 1687 (2025))
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In a second study published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (“Strong Chiro-Optical Activity of Plasmonic Metasurfaces with Inverted Pyramid Arrays”), the team introduced novel plasmonic metasurfaces using inverted pyramid arrays. These metasurfaces provide unprecedented polarization control and can be fabricated using soft lithography and anisotropic etching, resulting in a cost-effective and scalable method.
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| Inverted pyramids. (Image: ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 17, 10, 15824–15835, 2025)
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Luis Pérez, co-author of both studies, commented on the potential of these advancements: “Our research lays the foundation for a new generation of light-manipulating devices that could significantly improve technologies in fields like displays and environmental monitoring.”
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Researcher Agustín Mihi emphasized the importance of scalability in these innovations: “Not only do we push the limits of optical properties at the nanoscale, but we ensure that these technologies can be scaled up for industrial applications. This combination of performance and scalability is essential for transforming these discoveries into real-world products.”
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These two studies together offer revolutionary insights into the manipulation of light at the nanoscale and pave the way for more efficient and accessible optoelectronic devices, with broad applications in industries ranging from healthcare to energy and communications.
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