Thermo-plasmonic assisted structural optimization of micro/nanocrystals based on single-particle spectroscopy

Abstract

With the highly integrated development of photonic technology, conventional annealing methods can no longer meet the demand for the selective and controlled optimization of nanomaterials due to their low spatial resolution and inability to achieve real-time in situ non-destructive monitoring of the crystal structure and local temperature. Here, a thermo-plasmonic assisted rapid in situ heat treatment scheme for micro/nanocrystals is established using Eu³⁺ ions as sensitive spectroscopic probes of the local structure, the specific crystal transformation rate as local temperature sensors, and Au nanoparticles as effective light absorbers and photothermal converters. The results have demonstrated that thermo-plasmonics can not only assist in the precise control of ion doping in nanostructures but also modulate nanomaterials from polycrystalline to single crystalline and reverse disruption to amorphous. The plasmonic thermal effect is effectively modulated by the irradiation beam, composite plasmonic structure, and ambient temperature, and the role of thermo-plasmonics in the structural manipulation and elemental distribution regulation of micro/nanocrystals is explored. The thermo-plasmonic assisted rapid in situ heat treatment scheme has great potential for precise manipulation in the micro/nano-region, materials preparation, and crystallinity optimization, facilitating the locally controlled repair of micro/nanomaterials and promoting the construction of novel optoelectronic integrated systems.