Correlated rayleigh scattering spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy studies of Au-Ag bimetallic nanoboxes and nanocages

The optical properties of hollow nanoparticles (Au-Ag nanoboxes and nanocages) were investigated by recording Rayleigh scattering spectra of single particles, whose morphology and composition had been analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This was achieved by depositing the particles on optically transparent substrates with registration marks, which are compatible with SEM imaging. Fitting the experimental spectra to a Lorentzian function yields the frequencies and homogeneous line widths of the plasmon resonance for the particles. The resonances are extremely broad, with dephasing times of 2-5 fs. Analysis of the line width data using the dimensions determined by SEM shows that the broadening is due to a combination of electron-surface scattering and radiation damping. The sensitivity of the plasmon resonance to the dielectric constant of the environment was also investigated by adding a drop of water to the substrate. The nanoboxes show similar dielectric sensitivities compared to other metal nanoparticle systems. A significant increase in the line width was also observed for the nanoboxes in water compared with air. This was attributed to increased radiation damping in the environment with a higher dielectric constant. Both the red shift and the increase in line width are reversible.