Toward One-Way Smoke: Synthesis of Copper-Based Microclubs with Asymmetric Scattering and Absorption

The ultimate goal of this work is to create an engineered aerosol that acts as one-way smoke, i.e. it creates an asymmetric vision environment in which the ability to image objects depends on the viewing direction. To this end, a rapid, one-pot synthesis of copper-based microclubs is developed that consists of a Cu2O octahedron attached to a Cu2O@Cu shaft. Millions of synthesized particles are analyzed in minutes with a FlowCam to provide a robust statistical analysis of their geometry, and rapidly elucidate the roles of the reaction constituents on the particle shape and yield. The combination of asymmetry in both shape and composition introduces a 30% difference in scattering of light propagating parallel to the microclub axis from opposing directions. This work represents a first step toward the creation of an asymmetric imaging environment with an aerosol consisting of acoustically aligned microclubs.

Duke Scholars

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