Chiral Plasmonic Nanoshells via Chitin Nanocrystals Templating
Matteo Ruotolo
Chiral Plasmonic Nanoshells via Chitin Nanocrystals Templating.
Rel. Marco Sangermano. Politecnico di Torino, Master of science program in Materials Engineering For Industry 4.0, 2025
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Abstract
Liquid crystals are among the most fascinating states of soft matter, combining fluidity with long-range molecular organization. In nature, they play a pivotal role in the structural coloration of numerous biological systems, from butterfly wings to beetle exoskeletons, producing iridescent hues without pigments. This remarkable phenomenon originates from the self-assembly of cellulose or chitin nanocrystals, which spontaneously organize into helicoidal liquid crystalline phases capable of selectively reflecting light, giving rise to nature’s most vivid structural colors. Yet, the fundamental question remains: What drives this self-assembly? Despite extensive studies, the precise mechanism governing the transfer of chirality from the nanometric building blocks to the mesoscale remains unresolved.
One prevailing hypothesis, known as the Twisted Raft Model, proposes that a minority population of nanocrystals—termed bundles—act as chiral dopants, dictating the macroscopic helical arrangement of the liquid crystal phase
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