Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
09:29
Utilization of Plasmonic and Photonic Crystal Nanostructures for Enhanced Micro- and Nanoparticle Manipulation
Published on: September 27, 2011
Diffraction from arrays of plasmonic nanoparticles with short-range lateral order
Markus Schwind1, Vladimir D Miljković, Michael Zäch
1Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden. markusschwind@gmail.com
ACS Nano
|October 12, 2012
Summary
We studied light scattering from 2D aluminum (Al) nanoparticle ensembles. Scattering patterns reveal short-range order, enabling sensitive detection of thin silicon dioxide (SiO2) coatings on Al nanoparticles.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics
- Nanophotonics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Two-dimensional (2D) plasmonic nanoparticle ensembles exhibit unique optical properties.
- Understanding light scattering from these ordered structures is crucial for device applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure and analyze the angular distribution of light scattered from 2D plasmonic aluminum nanoparticle ensembles.
- To investigate the potential of scattering profile measurements for sensing applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of 2D Al nanoparticle ensembles using hole-mask colloidal lithography and electron beam lithography.
- Measurement of angle-resolved light scattering patterns.
- Sensing experiments monitoring scattering intensity changes with ultrathin SiO2 coating thickness.
Main Results:
- Scattering patterns were quantitatively described by combining single-particle scattering with a static structure factor accounting for short-range order.
- Angle and strength of the main diffraction peak varied linearly with SiO2 coating thickness (1.5–4.5 nm).
Conclusions:
- The short-range order in nanoparticle ensembles significantly influences scattering patterns.
- Scattering profile measurements offer a sensitive and competitive alternative to transmission measurements for detecting ultrathin coatings.
