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Optical properties of shaped silver nanoparticles
Vesna V Vodnik1, Dugan K Bozanić, Natasa Bibić
1VINCA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, P.O. Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
|December 5, 2008
Summary
The shape and environment significantly affect silver nanoparticle light absorption. Changing solvents and nanoparticle shapes alters surface plasmon resonance bands, impacting optical properties.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Silver nanoparticles exhibit surface plasmon resonance (SPR), a phenomenon sensitive to their size, shape, and surrounding medium.
- Understanding SPR shifts is crucial for applications in optics, sensing, and catalysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how nanoparticle shape and the dielectric properties of the surrounding medium influence the SPR absorption bands of silver nanoparticles.
- To compare experimental SPR data with theoretical models like Mie theory and Maxwell-Garnett theory.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of spherical, prismatic, and plate-like silver nanoparticles using different reducing agents and stabilizers.
- Characterization of SPR absorption spectra in various media (water, chloroform) and nanocomposites (with polyvinyl alcohol).
- Theoretical calculations based on Mie theory and Maxwell-Garnett theory for comparison with experimental results.
Main Results:
- Spherical silver nanoparticles transferred to chloroform showed a 19 nm red-shift in their SPR band compared to those in water.
- Anisotropic (prismatic and plate-like) silver nanoparticles exhibited three distinct SPR bands due to structural anisotropy.
- Silver nanoparticle-polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposites displayed a single SPR band at 460 nm, differing from aqueous colloids.
Conclusions:
- Nanoparticle shape and surrounding dielectric environment are critical factors controlling SPR peak position and bandwidth.
- Theoretical models provide good agreement with experimental SPR data, aiding in understanding nanoparticle optical properties.
- The formation of nanocomposites significantly modifies SPR behavior, leading to a single dominant absorption band.
