Controlled three-dimensional manipulation of vanadium oxide nanotubes with optical tweezers

We present a direct nanotube-microsphere tagging technique for the controlled three-dimensional (3D) manipulation and transportation of vanadium oxide nanotubes (VO_x -NTs) with optical tweezers. The high scattering and absorptive nature of the VO_x -NTs preclude the 3D optical trapping of such nanostructures. VO_x -NTs are adhered to 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane functionalized silica microspheres, which act as handles for indirectly manipulating and transporting the nanotubes in three dimensions with optical tweezers. The optical tweezers can also operate as optical scissors that can remove the dielectric handles and trim these nanotubes. This technique may be extended to the optical manipulation of nanotubes of any material.