Different Methods of Increasing the Mechanical Strength of Gold Nanocages

TitleDifferent Methods of Increasing the Mechanical Strength of Gold Nanocages
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsMahmoud, MA, Szymanski, P, El-Sayed, MA
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Volume3
Pagination3527-3531
Date PublishedDec
ISBN Number1948-7185
Accession NumberWOS:000312170600022
Abstract

Using the ultrafast coherent modulation of the surface plasmon band intensity with the totally symmetric lattice vibration of gold nanocages, we were able to determine and use their frequencies as a measure of the cage's mechanical stability. The presence of an inner "stiff" transition-metal nanoshell with a higher value of the elastic modulus is found to increase the frequency of the lattice vibration of the outer soft gold nanoshell. This could also explain the observed increase in both the gold lattice vibrational frequency as well as the lattice vibration relaxation time in the Au-Pt and Au-Pd double-shell nanocages. It is also found that when these nanoparticles are assembled into monolayers on quartz substrates by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique, the oscillation frequency of the gold shell with the transition metal having the largest elastic constant suffers the least change in its oscillation frequency as a result of its resistance to distortion as a result of binding to the substrate.

DOI10.1021/jz301503z