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Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune and the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay have developed an innovative, cost-effective method to produce high-quality metal nanoparticles.
In a new study published in the journal Small Methods, the researchers said this technique, known as confined dewetting, could have wide applications in biomedical diagnostics and chemical detection by enabling highly sensitive and reliable sensors.
The study, led by Dr Ayesha Rahman (research scientist at I-Hub Quantum Technology Foundation hosted by IISER, Pune), Prof Anirban Sain (faculty member at the department of physics, IIT-Bombay), and Dr Atikur Rahman (faculty member at the department of physics, IISER, Pune), introduces a simple yet powerful approach to create uniform, high-density metal nanoparticles on various surfaces, including flat, curved and microtextured substrates.
Simply put, a super-thin (about 10,000 times thinner than a human hair) layer of metal, like gold film spread on a piece of glass. When heated, the metal starts to bunch into tiny droplets as the metal tries to minimise its surface energy. The study authors explained that if the metal film is squeezed between two surfaces and heat is applied, it breaks up into tiny, uniform droplets that are packed closely together. “This process is called confined dewetting, and it can be used to make highly sensitive sensors for biomedical and chemical applications,” they said.
By sandwiching a thin metal film between a substrate and a layer of PDMS (a flexible, silicone-based material) during heating, the researchers achieved precise control over the size and spacing of nanoparticles, resulting in particles with minimal size variation and gaps as small as a few nanometers. “This level of precision is critical for applications requiring consistent and enhanced performance, such as detecting trace amounts of biological or chemical substances,” the authors said in the report.
Traditional methods of nanoparticle production are based on expensive and complex processes and often do not produce uniform nanoparticles.
The researchers anticipate that this capability could enable earlier detection of diseases through biomarkers or identify minute traces of chemicals in environmental or industrial settings. Speaking on the potential applications of this new method, Dr Rahman said, “With applications ranging from medical diagnostics to chemical analysis and beyond, confined dewetting is a game-changer in nanotechnology.”
