Large and controllable light-induced shift of the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance of gold nanorods submerged in hydroquinone solution

This paper demonstrates light-activated tuning of the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of gold nanorods submerged in hydroquinone solution. The LSPR exhibits a light-controlled red-shift of more than 100 nm, but only under continuous illumination. It is also possible to return to the starting LSPR value by washing the nanorods with cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide solution.