  Research in the field of nanoplasmonic metamaterials is moving towards more
and more interesting and, potentially useful, applications. The present work
tackles the problem of nanoparticle self-assembly at an electrochemical
solid-liquid interface from a purely theoretical perspective. We perform a
simplified, comprehensive analysis of the stability of a nanoparticle arrays
under different conditions and assembly. From the Poisson-Bjerrum model of
electrostatic interactions between a metallic nanoparticle and the electrode
and between the nanoparticles at the electrode, as well the Hamaker-Lifshitz
model of the corresponding van der Waals interactions, we reach some
conclusions regarding the possibility to build arrays of charged nanoparticles
on electrodes and disassemble them, subject to variation of applied voltage.
Since system of this type have been shown, recently, to provide nontrivial
electrotuneable optical response, such analysis is crucial for answering the
question whether such scenarios of electrochemical plasmonics are feasible.
