@article{article,
  title = {Nanoscale topographical control of capillary assembly of nanoparticles},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  abstract = {Predetermined and selective placement of nanoparticles onto large-area substrates with nanometre-scale precision is essential to harness the unique properties of nanoparticle assemblies, in particular for functional optical and electro-optical nanodevices. Unfortunately, such high spatial organization is currently beyond the reach of top-down nanofabrication techniques alone. Here, we demonstrate that topographic features comprising lithographed funnelled traps and auxiliary sidewalls on a solid substrate can deterministically direct the capillary assembly of Au nanorods to attain simultaneous control of position, orientation and interparticle distance at the nanometre level. We report up to 100% assembly yield over centimetre-scale substrates. We achieve this by optimizing the three sequential stages of capillary nanoparticle assembly: insertion of nanorods into the traps, resilience against the receding suspension front and drying of the residual solvent. Finally, using electron energy-loss spectroscopy we characterize the spectral response and near-field properties of spatially programmable Au nanorod dimers, highlighting the opportunities for precise tunability of the plasmonic modes in larger assemblies.},
  volume = {12},
  number = {1},
  pages = {73-80},
  year = {2017},
  slug = {article},
  author = {Flauraud, Valentin and Mastrangeli, Massimo and Bernasconi, Gabriel and Butet, Jérémy and Alexander, Duncan and Shahrabi, Elmira and Martin, Olivier and Brugger, Juergen}
}