Independent optically addressable nanoparticle-polymer optomechanical composites

We report the fabrication and characterization of optomechanically active composite materials consisting of a thermally responsive poly(NIPAAm-co-AAm) hydrogel matrix incorporating a dilute concentration of Au or silica-Au core-shell nanoparticles. Under optical illumination at the resonance absorption wavelength of the nanoparticle dopant, a dramatic volume collapse of the composite occurs due to local photothermal heating of the NIPAAm matrix. Nanoparticle dopants were chosen so that each composite was specifically optically addressable, exhibiting optomechanical behavior at independent wavelengths. Such materials can be useful as independently addressable remotely triggerable switches and gates in a wide variety of micromechanical applications. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.