Bidirectional molecular reorientation induced by localized surface plasmon

Abstract

We report about the opposite direction of molecular reorientation induced by the light of wavelength at two sides of the plasmonic resonance spectrum. The molecular reorientation is highly enhanced due to the electric field concentration for wavelength close to the resonance of the metal nanoparticle. We theoretically investigate and confirm by discrete–dipole approximation method calculations the mechanism of reorientation of nematic liquid crystal molecules upon interaction with localized surface plasmon.