| AVS 59th Annual International Symposium and Exhibition | |
| Nanometer-scale Science and Technology | Wednesday Sessions |
| Session NS-WeA |
| Session: | Nanophotonics and Plasmonics |
| Presenter: | S. Vilayurganapathy, EMSL, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
| Authors: | S. Vilayurganapathy, EMSL, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory A. Pandey, EMSL, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory A. Devaraj, EMSL, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory D.E. Perea, EMSL, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory S. Thevuthasan, EMSL, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory A. Kayani, Western Michigan University |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
One dimensional metal nanostructures such as nanorods and nanowires exhibit interesting linear and non-linear optical properties and find various applications as electronic, photonic and sensing devices. The optical properties of these composites are dominated by localized surface Plasmon resonance (LSPR) which results from the oscillations of conduction electrons in response to an external field. The resonant frequency of the electrons depends strongly on size, shape, distribution and the surrounding dielectric medium . By controlling the physical and chemical properties of the nanorods and nanowires the electronic and optical properties of the material can be tuned for appropriate applications. Nanorods and wires with well controlled aspect ratios can be grown by Electrodeposition and Polyol synthesis methods.
We have successfully employed the above two methods to grow both vertically and horizontally aligned Ag nanorods and wires. Vertically aligned and free standing Ag nanorods were grown by electrodepositing Ag onto an Anodized Aluminum oxide (AAO) template containing a sputtered layer of Ag on one side. The length of the nanorods varies linearly as a function of deposition time allowing us to obtain excellent control over the aspect ratio. The template was subsequently etched away using 6 wt. % Phosphoric acid/1.8 wt. % chromic acid solution leaving behind free standing vertically aligned nanorods. A Polyol process in which we reduce silver nitrate with ethylene glycol in the presence of a capping agent (PVP) was employed to grow nanorods in solution. A high yield of nanorods was obtained after centrifuging. The above grown nanorods were horizontally aligned onto a substrate by the Langmuir-Blodgett method. Scanning electron Microscope (SEM) was used to image the nanorods. The change in plasmonic response of both vertically and horizontally aligned nanorods as a function of aspect ratio as well as the influence of the surrounding dielectric medium on the plasmonic resonance of the nanorods embedded in a dielectric matrix will be discussed.