Photons as energy carriers are clean and abundant, which can be conveniently applied for nanoactuation but the response is usually slow with very low energy efficiency/density. Here, we underpin the concept of robust nanoscale plasmonic dynamite by incorporating fullerene (C60). The Au@C60 core-shell nanoparticles can be triggered to explode in nanoscale with synergy of plasmon-enhanced photochemical and photothermal effects. It is suggested that a sensible amount of CO2 was generated and pressurized in nanometric volume in an extremely short time scale (∼ns), which triggers the nanoexplosion, rendering the ejection of Au NPs at the speed over 300 m/s. The ejection generates extremely large local forces (∼1 μN) with thermomechanical energy efficiency up to ∼30%, which is demonstrated as a powerful nanoengine for controlled mobilization of micro-objects on solid surfaces. Such nanoscale plasmonic dynamite is highly exploitable for different types of nanomachines, which provides a powerful energy source for nanoactuation and nanomigration.
Keywords: nanoactuators; nanoexplosion; photochemical; photothermal; plasmons.