Measurement of Resonant Frequencies and Modes of Freestanding Nanoparticle Monolayers

We recently showed that freestanding membranes of ligated nanoparticles can be assembled in a one-step drying-mediated process [1]. These 10nm thin membranes can stretch over holes up to 100 microns in diameter and are supported by a substrate only along their outer edge, thereby freely suspending of the order of 100 million close-packed particles [2]. Previous work has focused on quasi-static mechanical properties [1-3]. Here we present the first investigation of the full dynamic response of freely suspended nanoparticle membranes, utilizing a high frequency laser interferometer with picometer sensitivity. This instrument allows us to rapidly measure the dynamical properties of freestanding nanoparticle monolayers for the first time including resonant frequencies, quality factors, and images of different modes.\\[4pt] [1] Klara E. Mueggenburg et al., ``Elastic membranes of close-packed nanoparticle arrays,'' Nature Materials 6, 656-660 (2007). \\[0pt] [2] Jinbo He et al., ``Fabrication and Mechanical properties of large-scale freestanding nanoparticle membranes,'' Small 6, 1449-1456 (2010).\\[0pt] [3] Pongsakorn Kanjanaboos et al., ``Strain Patterning and Direct Measurement of Poisson's Ratio in Nanoparticle Monolayer Sheets,'' Nano Letters 11, 2567-2571 (2011).