Scaling of optical forces on Au-PEG core-shell nanoparticles

Optical trapping of hybrid core-shell gold-polymer particles is studied. Optical forces are measured for different gold core size and polymer shell thickness, revealing how a polymer shell increases the trapping efficiency with respect to the bare gold nanoparticles. Data are in agreement with calculations of optical trapping based on electromagnetic scattering theory in the T-matrix approach. The scaling behaviour of optical forces with respect to the ratio between polymer layer thickness and the whole particle radius is found and discussed. © 2015 The Royal Society of Chemistry.