2D assembly of gold-PNIPAM core-shell nanocrystals

2D arrays of Au-PNIPAM core-shell nanocrystals were fabricated using convective deposition and spin-coating. The particle density and ordering were studied by AFM. Annealing at 700 degrees C removes the polymer shell, while retaining a monolayer of well-separated gold nanoparticles. The surface plasmon modes of the colloid monolayers could be measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry.