Free-standing 1D assemblies of plasmonic nanoparticles.

A simple yet effective method to generate free-standing 1D assemblies of gold nanoparticles by a combined top-down and bottom-up approach in conjunction with superhydrophobicity-directed fluid drying is reported. The free-standing nanoparticle assemblies can be as thin ca. 45 nm and as long as ca. 30 μm, yet mechanically strong without collapsing when held at one end. Furthermore, the 1D nanoparticle assemblies could be used as plasmonic waveguides.