Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensitivity of Metal Nanostructures:  Physical Basis and Universal Scaling in Metal Nanoshells

TitleSurface Plasmon Resonance Sensitivity of Metal Nanostructures:  Physical Basis and Universal Scaling in Metal Nanoshells
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsJain, PK, EL-Sayed, MA
JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume111
Issue47
Pagination17451 - 17454
Date Published2007
ISBN Number1932-7447
Abstract

In this letter, we show using extended Mie theory simulations that the sensitivity of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of a dielectric core-metal nanoshell increases near-exponentially as the ratio of the shell thickness-to-core radius is decreased. The plasmon sensitivity thus shows the same universal scaling behavior established recently for plasmon coupling in metal nanoshells and that in metal nanoparticle pairs. From these observations, we propose that the sensitivity is determined by the ease of surface polarization of the electrons in the nanostructure by the light. This can be used as a generalized physical principle for designing plasmonic nanostructures for effective SPR chemical and biological sensing.In this letter, we show using extended Mie theory simulations that the sensitivity of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of a dielectric core-metal nanoshell increases near-exponentially as the ratio of the shell thickness-to-core radius is decreased. The plasmon sensitivity thus shows the same universal scaling behavior established recently for plasmon coupling in metal nanoshells and that in metal nanoparticle pairs. From these observations, we propose that the sensitivity is determined by the ease of surface polarization of the electrons in the nanostructure by the light. This can be used as a generalized physical principle for designing plasmonic nanostructures for effective SPR chemical and biological sensing.

URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp0773177
DOI10.1021/jp0773177
Short TitleJ. Phys. Chem. C