Photothermal dynamics of micro-glass beads coated with gold nanoparticles in water: Fine bubble generation and fluid-induced laser trapping

Shin-ichiro Yanagiya, Naoya Sekimoto and Akihiro Furube

In this study, gold nanoparticles were heterogeneously deposited onto the surfaces of glass beads through a gold ion reduction method to obtain "plasmonic beads". Plasmonic beads in pure water were illuminated with a visible continuous-wave laser through an objective lens. Using a relatively low-power laser, plasmonic beads were optically trapped and aggregated the other beads over an area much greater than the focal point. On the other hand, using a high-power laser (>20 mW/µm2), microbubbles were produced in water. Thus, the plasmonic beads studied herein can act as optically controllable fluid and microbubble generators.

DOI