Chiral plasmonic liquid crystal gold nanoparticles: self-assembly into a circular dichroism responsive helical lamellar superstructure.

Owing to their proven and promising potential in various technological endeavors ranging from catalysis and sensing to invisibility cloaks made from metamaterials, chiral plasmonic superstructures resulting from the directed self-assembly of optically active metal nanoparticles (MNPs) have been pursued intensively in recent years. Several strategic efforts have emerged especially to accomplish advanced nanomaterials assembling into liquid crystalline (LC) helical structures, where MNPs are regularly packed in fluid/frozen arrays/layers or wires (columns). While the helical fluid columnar arrays (molecular wires) showing circular dichroism (CD) have been realized, the discovery of fluid chiral lamellar ordering, where the dielectric and conducting regimes are arranged alternatively, has hitherto remained highly elusive.