Control of surface plasmon resonances in dielectrically coated proximate gold nanoparticles immobilized on a substrate

We present experimental and theoretical results for the changes in the optical-plasmon resonance of gold-nanoparticle dimers immobilized on a surface when coated with an organic dielectric material. The plasmon band of a nanoparticle dimer shifts to a higher wavelength when the distance between neighboring particles is decreased, and a well-separated second peak appears. This phenomenon is called cross-talk. We find that an organic coating lets cross-talk start at larger separation distances than for uncoated dimers by bridging the gap between immobilized nanoparticles (creating optical clusters). We study this optical clustering effect as a function of the polarization of the applied light, of the inter-particle distance, of the surrounding environment, and of the optical properties of the coating layer. Theoretical discrete-dipole approximation calculations support the experimental absorption spectroscopy results of gold nanoparticles on glass substrates and on optical waveguides

Binary Mixtures of SH- and CH3-Terminated Self-Assembled Monolayers to Control the Average Spacing Between Aligned Gold Nanoparticles

This paper presents a method to control the average spacing between organometallic chemical vapor deposition (OMCVD) grown gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in a line. Focused ion beam patterned CH3-terminated self-assembled monolayers are refilled systematically with different mixtures of SH- and CH3-terminated silanes. The average spacing between OMCVD Au NPs is demonstrated systematically to decrease by increasing the v/v% ratio of the thiols in the binary silane mixtures with SH- and CH3-terminated groups