Thermal properties of infrared absorbent gold nanoparticle coatings for MEMS applications

• A foundation for developing light-powered MEMS is presented.
• Near IR absorbant gold nanoparticles are characterized on a surface.
• Temperature change due to applied 808 nm light is shown for bare and near IR absorbant nanoparticle-coated surfaces.
• Thermal efficiency is calculated for fabricated thin-film devices.
• Surface response to changing near IR laser intensity is presented.

This report presents characterization of the optical absorption and thermal properties of a thin-film platinum device coated with gold nanoparticles. These particles are engineered to have a light absorption peak near 808 nm. The response of bare and particle-coated thin-film platinum was examined under an 808 nm infrared laser. The results show that a particle coating is a significant factor in the thermal efficiency. This work is the foundation for wavelength-specific microelectromechanical actuators powered by infrared light.