Cooling Dynamics of a Gold Nanoparticle in a Host Medium Under Ultrafast Laser Pulse Excitation: A Ballistic-Diffusive Approach

We present a numerical model allowing to determine the electron and lattice temperature dynamics in a gold nanoparticle under subpicosecond pulsed excitation, as well as that of the surrounding medium. For this, we have used the electron-phonon coupling equation in the particle with a source term linked with the laser pulse, and the ballistic-diffusive equations for heat conduction in the host medium. Our results show that the heat transfer rate from the particle to the matrix is significantly smaller than the prediction of Fourier's law. Consequently, the particle temperature rise is much larger and its cooling dynamics is much slower than that obtained using Fourier's law, which is attributed to the nonlocal and nonequilibrium heat conduction in the vicinity of the nanoparticle. These results are expected to be of great importance for interpreting pump-probe experiments performed on single nanoparticles or nanocomposite media

Microstructure and optical properties of lustre glazes produced on a copper body

In this research, a luster enamel is applied to a copper body. A white glaze, conventionally applied in enamel handcraft, was used as the luster substrate. Silver nitrate was used as the source of the lustre metal. Since the work aimed to determine the optimal firing conditions, several samples were prepared with different reduction temperatures and times. The optimal firing temperature and reduction time were found to be 600 °C and 10 min, respectively. The microstructure and chemical analyses were performed on the samples using an FE-SEM image. The results showed the successful formation of silver nanoparticles within the glaze substrate. In addition, two layers were formed: a thin glass layer of several tens of nm on the surface and a layer containing silver nanoparticles inside the glaze. The results also showed that the silver nanoparticles can penetrate several microns into the glaze body. Reflectance spectra confirmed the presence of silver nanoparticles in the lustre with a volume fraction of order of 0.01%

Influence des effets thermiques sur la réponse optique de matériaux nanocomposites métal-diélectrique

PARIS-BIUSJ-Thèses (751052125) / SudocPARIS-BIUSJ-Physique recherche (751052113) / SudocSudocFranceF

Thermal response of nanocomposite materials under pulsed laser excitation

The optical properties of nanocomposite materials made of matrix-embedded noble metal nanoparticles strongly depend on thermal effects from different origins. We propose a classical model describing the energy exchanges within the nanoparticles and between the latter and the surrounding dielectric host subsequent to a light pulse absorption. This model, which accounts for the thermal interactions between neighboring particles, allows us to calculate numerically the temperature dynamics of the electrons, metal lattice and matrix as functions of particle size, and metal concentration of the medium, whatever be the pulsed excitation temporal regime. It is illustrated in the case of Au:SiO2 materials under femtosecond and nanosecond pulse excitation. It is shown that, in the femtosecond regime, the heat transfer to the matrix cannot be neglected beyond a few picosecond delay from which particle size and metal concentration play a significant role in the electron relaxation. In the nanosecond regime, these morphologic parameters influence crucially the material thermal behavior with the possibility of generating a thermal lens effect. The implications in the analysis of experimental results regarding both the electron relaxation dynamics and the nonlinear optical properties are also discussed. Finally, a method to adapt the model to the case of thin nanocomposite film is proposed

Thermo-optical properties of embedded silver nanoparticles

International audienceThermo-optical properties of nanocomposite materials consisting of noble metal nanoparticles dispersed in a dielectric medium are appropriate for many applications as imaging, nonlinear optics, or optical monitoring of local thermal exchanges. Here, we analyze the thermo-optical response of silver nanoparticles. The contribution of inter- and intraband transitions to the thermo-optical index of bulk silver is first extracted using experimental results reported earlier in the literature. The influence of these two contributions on the thermo-optical properties of silver nanoparticles embedded in glass is then investigated. The results show that these properties are essentially due to the intraband thermo-optical contribution in the vicinity of the surface plasmon resonance of the nanoparticles, while they are dominated by the interband contribution close to the interband transition threshold

Gold nanoparticle assemblies: Interplay between thermal effects and optical response

submitted to Gold Bull., 34 pagesThe optical response of materials based on gold nanoparticle assemblies depends on many parameters regarding both material morphology and light excitation characteristics. In this paper, the interplay between the optical and thermal responses of such media is particularly investigated under its theoretical aspect. Both conventional and original modeling approaches are presented and applied to concrete cases. We first show how the interaction of light with matrix-embedded gold nanoparticles can result in the generation of thermal excitations through different energy exchange mechanisms. We then describe how thermal processes can affect the optical response of a nanoparticle assembly. Finally, we connect both aspects and point out their involvement in the nonlinear optical response of nanocomposite media. This allows us to tackle two key issues in the field of third-order nonlinear properties of gold nanoparticles: The influence of the generalized thermal lens in the long laser pulse regime and the hot electron contribution to the gold particle intrinsic third-order susceptibility, including its spectral dispersion and intensity-dependence. Additionally, we demonstrate the possible significant influence of the heat carrier ballistic regime and phonon rarefaction in the cooling dynamics of an embedded gold nanoparticle subsequent to ultrafast pulsed laser excitation

Gold nanoparticle assemblies: Thermal behaviour under optical excitation

International audienceThe optical response of materials based on gold nanoparticle assemblies depends on many parameters connected to both material morphology and light excitation characteristics. The optical energy absorbed is then converted into heat through different nanoscale energy exchange mechanisms. This heating subsequently modifies itself the optical properties. We investigate the interplay between the optical and thermal responses of nanocomposite media under its theoretical aspect. In this first paper, the thermal response of gold nanoparticle assemblies under pulsed optical excitation is considered. Both conventional and original modelling approaches are presented. We first underline the role of electromagnetic interactions between particles in a dense assembly in its linear optical response. We then show how the interaction of light with matrix-embedded gold nanoparticles can result in the generation of thermal excitations through different energy exchange mechanisms. Finally, we demonstrate the possible significant influence of the heat carrier ballistic regime and phonon rarefaction in the cooling dynamics of an embedded gold nanoparticle subsequent to ultrafast pulsed laser excitation

Enhancement of the thermo-optical response of silver nanoparticles due to surface plasmon resonance

International audienc