0000000000896986
AUTHOR
Chitra Rangan
Tetraurea calix[4]arenes with sulfur functions: synthesis, dimerization to capsules, and self-assembly on gold.
Various calix[4]arene derivatives, fixed in the cone conformation by decylether groups and functionalized at their wide rim by urea residues, were synthesized. In two compounds (4f,g) sulfur functions were attached to the urea groups via different spacers in order to allow binding to metal surfaces. While they exist as single molecules in polar solvents, tetraurea calix[4]arenes of this type (4) combine to form dimeric capsules in aprotic, apolar solvents. A solvent molecule is usually included in such a capsule, if no guest with a higher affinity is present. In the presence of an equimolar amount of the tetratosylurea 5, the exclusive formation of heterodimers, consisting of one molecule o…
Control of surface plasmon resonances in dielectrically coated proximate gold nanoparticles immobilized on a substrate
We present experimental and theoretical results for the changes in the optical-plasmon resonance of gold-nanoparticle dimers immobilized on a surface when coated with an organic dielectric material. The plasmon band of a nanoparticle dimer shifts to a higher wavelength when the distance between neighboring particles is decreased, and a well-separated second peak appears. This phenomenon is called cross-talk. We find that an organic coating lets cross-talk start at larger separation distances than for uncoated dimers by bridging the gap between immobilized nanoparticles (creating optical clusters). We study this optical clustering effect as a function of the polarization of the applied light…