Plasmon-driven nanowire actuators for on-chip manipulation

Abstract Chemically synthesized metal nanowires are promising building blocks for next-generation photonic integrated circuits, but technological implementation in monolithic integration will be severely hampered by the lack of controllable and precise manipulation approaches, due to strong adhesion substrates non-liquid environments. Here, we demonstrate this obstacle can removed our proposed earthworm-like peristaltic crawling motion mechanism, based on synergistic expansion, friction, contraction plasmon-driven The evanescently excited surface plasmon greatly enhances heating effect nanowires, thereby generating acoustic waves drive along silica microfibres. Advantages include sub-nanometer positioning accuracy, low actuation power, self-parallel parking. We further on-chip manipulations including transporting, positioning, orientation, sorting, with on-situ operation, high selectivity, great versatility. Our work paves way realize full co-integration various functionalized components single chips.