Optical-induced shape transformation of single nanoparticles on substrates has shown benefits of simplicity and regularity for single-particle device fabrication and on-chip integration. However, most of the existing strategies are based on wet chemical growth and etching, which could lead to surface contamination with limited local selectivity and device compatibility. Shape deformation via the photothermal effect can overcome these issues but has limited versatility and tunability largely due to the high surface tension of the molten droplet. Here we show gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) can drastically transform into nanoplates under the irradiation of a continuous wave laser (446 nm). We reveal the dielectric thin film underneath the molten Au is critical in deforming the NP into faceted nanoplate under the drive of photothermophoretic forces, which is sufficient to counteract the surface tension of the molten droplet. Both experimental evidence and simulations support this thin-film-assisted photothermal deformation mechanism, which is local selective and generally applicable to differently shaped Au NPs. It provides a facile and robust strategy for single-plate-based device applications.
Keywords: flow; molten; nanoplates; photothermophoretic; plasmons.