Photo-responsive spiropyran monolayer protected gold nanorod

•Spiropyran monolayer protected gold nanorod (SGNR) was prepared for the first time.•SGNR was stable, soluble and photo-responsive under certain light irradiation in organic solvent.•The photochromism of spiropyran monolayer has effect on the SPR absorption of SGNR.

The spiropyran monolayer covalently protected gold nanorod (GNR) hybrid was prepared and well characterized for the first time, which was stable, soluble and photo-responsive under certain light irradiation in organic solvent. The photochromism of the densely packed spiropyran monolayer on the surface of GNRs was found having effect on the surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) absorption of gold nanorods, namely inducing the intensity change of the two plasma absorption peaks at 786 and 551 nm of the GNR hybrids. The functionalization of this organic-inorganic GNR hybrid and the photo-tuning of its SPR absorption properties, especially in the not only UV–Vis range but also near-infrared (NIR) spectral area would make important and interesting sense in the area of functional hybrid nanomaterial.

Graphical abstractThe spiropyran monolayer covalently protected gold nanorod (GNR) hybrid was prepared and well characterized for the first time, which was stable, soluble and photo-responsive under certain light irradiation in organic solvent. The photochromism of the densely packed spiropyran monolayer on the surface of GNRs was found having effect on the surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) absorption of gold nanorods, namely inducing the intensity change of the two plasma absorption peaks at 786 and 551 nm of the GNR hybrids. The functionalization of this organic-inorganic GNR hybrid and the photo-tuning of its SPR absorption properties, especially in the not only UV–Vis range but also near-infrared (NIR) spectral area would make important and interesting sense in the area of functional hybrid nanomaterial. Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide