Editorial pubs.acs.org/Langmuir
Preface to the Colloidal Nanoplasmonics Special Issue n few areas has the field of colloids been historically more related to nanotechnology than in what is currently termed nanoplasmonics. The historical landmark set by Faraday’s 1857 paper entitled “Relations of light with gold (and other metals)”, full of observations related to the preparation and properties of colloids, is a clear example of this. Colloid science has been crucial in driving research on the optical properties of nanoscale metals. Hundreds of synthesis methods have been reported that allow the preparation of nanoparticles with sufficient monodispersity to correlate localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) with specific morphologies (well-defined size and shape). Additionally, control over nanoparticle surface chemistry provided essential tools to direct nanoparticle assembly and understand the collective plasmon modes. But this has been only the beginning because current development and the search for applications have translated into broad multidisciplinary research that merges chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, and engineering on the nanoscale. Early efforts to study (average) LSPRs from colloidal ensembles have given way to single-particle analysis, which relies on the recent development of new techniques that allow us to image and manipulate selected areas, leading to a better understanding of the fundamental properties of metal nanoparticles. This knowledge then guides efforts to design nanostructured devices through the controlled assembly of nanoparticle building blocks, with properties that can be closely modeled by means of sophisticated theoretical methods. Because many of these applications are related to biomedical processes, colloidal engineering of bioactive and biocompatible nanoparticles has also taken off very rapidly. It was this close interplay between colloidal methods and optical characterization and applications that lay behind this special issue of Langmuir. We have assembled a collection of original research papers from a distinguished group of scientists from a wide geographical distribution. Among the topics covered in the issue, we can highlight the synthesis of ever more sophisticated metal nanoparticles with perfectly engineered morphologies, including core−shell and patchy nanoparticles, the design of biorelevant surface coatings, the formation of various types of nanoparticle assemblies, the analysis of plasmonic properties on the singleparticle level, and the theoretical description of the same. We also have excellent contributions related to LSPR coupling and collective plasmon modes as well as an understanding of hot spot formation and its application in surface-enhanced Raman scattering in various ways. The special issue also includes several articles related to the incorporation of plasmonic nanoparticles into photonic structures and their influence on light propagation, as well as the relationship between plasmon enhancement and electron flow. In all of these articles, we can see the expanding nature of this exciting field and the bright future that is ahead, where most amazing discoveries are to be expected. This special issue would not have been possible without the contributions and assistance of many people. The entire Langmuir editorial team provided valuable input concerning the overall structure of the issue and suggested many potential
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© 2012 American Chemical Society
authors. We are most grateful to all of the authors who contributed manuscripts and the reviewers who took time to provide constructive feedback to the authors. We hope that you, the readers, find this special issue to be a valuable overview of the state of the art in this still-expanding field. Colloidal synthesis, characterization, and properties are among the most important topics covered by Langmuir, and their impact on nanoplasmonic research and applications cannot be overstated. We look forward to continuing to serve the community by publishing your Letters and Articles in this area. Luis M. Liz-Marzan Senior Editor University of Vigo Tetsuro Majima Senior Editor Osaka University My congratulations and thanks to Tetsuro and Luis for their collaborative organization of this timely and highly relevant colloidal nanoplasmonics special issue. We think this will be interesting and valued to our readership. David G. Whitten Editor-in-Chief University of New Mexico
Special Issue: Colloidal Nanoplasmonics Published: May 23, 2012 8825
dx.doi.org/10.1021/la302038y | Langmuir 2012, 28, 8825−8825
