Imaging three-dimensional rotational diffusion of plasmon resonant gold nanorods using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2011 Apr;83(4 Pt 1):040903. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.83.040903. Epub 2011 Apr 12.

Abstract

We demonstrate depth-resolved viscosity measurements within a single object using polarized optical scattering from ensembles of freely tumbling plasmon resonant gold nanorods (GNRs) monitored with polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography. The rotational diffusion coefficient of the GNRs is shown to correlate with viscosity in molecular fluids according to the Stokes-Einstein relation. The plasmon resonant and highly anisotropic properties of GNRs are favorable for microrheological studies of nanoscale properties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Diffusion
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Nanotubes / chemistry*
  • Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / methods*
  • Refractometry / methods*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / methods*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*

Substances

  • Gold