Characterizations and applications of nanomaterials

High-efficiency photo-electron conversion devices

Semiconductor processes and nanofabrication

Characterizations and applications of nanomaterials

Light harvesting and light extraction

Optical analysis techniques

Eco-friendly devices and sensors

Using Spectroscopic Ellipsometry to Characterize and Apply the Optical Constants of Hollow Gold Nanoparticles

In this paper, we report the optical constants (refractive index, extinction coefficient) of selfassembled hollow gold nanoparticle (HGN) monolayers determined through spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). We prepared a series of HGNs exhibiting various morphologies and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) properties. The extinction coefficient (k) curves of the HGN monolayers exhibited strong SPR peaks located at wavelengths that followed similar trends to those of the SPR positions of the HGNs in solution. The refractive index (n) curves exhibited an abnormal dispersion that was due to the strong SPR extinction. The values of
n and kmax both correlated linearly with the particle number densities. From a comparison of the optical constant values of HGNs with those of solid Au nanoparticles (NPs), we used SE measurements to demonstrate a highly sensitive Si-based chemical sensor. HGNs display a slightly lower value of k at the SPR peak but a much higher sensitivity to changes in the surrounding medium than do solid Au NPs.