Plasmon-assisted trapping of nanoparticles using a silver-nanowire-embedded PMMA nanofiber.

The integration of surface plasmon with waveguide is a strategy for lab-on-a-chip compatible optical trapping. Here, we report a method for trapping of nanoparticles using a silver nanowire (AgNW) embedded poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanofiber with the assistance of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). The nanoparticles (polystyrene, 700 nm diameter) are transported along the nanofiber and ultimately trapped at the AgNW embedded region because of the enhanced optical gradient force towards the nanofiber exerted on the nanoparticles and optical potential well generated by the excitation of SPPs. The low optical power requirement and the easy fabrication of the AgNW-embedded nanofiber with broad range of wavelength for SPPs are advantageous to the applications in optofluidics and plasmofluidics.