Polymer nanocomposites for plasmonics: In situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles after additive manufacturing

A series of nanocomposites containing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are prepared by stereolithography (SL) simply adding a precursor (KAuCl4) to photoresist. thermal treatment is performed after manufacturing the nanocomposites, triggering reduction KAuCl4 into AuNPs in solid state. In this approach, photopolymerization resin and formation occur independently, allowing optimization these two processes separately. Advanced electron microscopy analyses reveal distribution, size morphology synthesized within resin, showing influence concentration different treatments. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) modifies optical properties 3D-printed yielding transparent yet colored materials even for concentrations as low 0.1 wt% KAuCl4. This behavior can be modelled Mie theory, correlating macroscopic with individual embedded resin. possibility tuning LSPR together ability 3D-structures sub-millimeter precision SL, paves way design advanced platforms plasmonics, such sensors enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).