Role of particle anisotropy and deposition method on the patterning of nano-objects by the photovoltaic effect in LiNbO3

Novel experiments and data analysis on the emergent use of evanescent photovoltaic fields generated by visible illumination of Fe:LiNbO3 for trapping, patterning and massif manipulation of micro-and nano-objects are reported. The data include experiments on a variety of particles (dielectric and conductive) and illumination geometries. The data reveal the key role of several physical parameters such as the modulation m of the exciting light pattern, particle anisotropy and deposition method. The observed dependences are satisfactorily described within a theoretical framework describing the dielectrophoretic forces acting on the substrate surface. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.