Tunable Plasmonics by Self-Assembled Stretchable Superlattices on Macroscopic Scale

We present a process to create flexible 2D superlattices of nanoparticles, self-assembled into discrete and long-range ordered clusters. The process is readily scalable and grants access to mechano-responsive nanostructures on square centimeter areas. The elastic properties of the support allow for post-assembly tailoring of the lattice periodicity. The corresponding change in collective lattice coupling results in a gradual shift of the extinction maximum upon mechanical strain. Our results give a proof-of-principle for tunable plasmonics by mechano-responsive nanostructures.