Auger-Excited Photoluminescence from Gold Nanoflowers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Photoluminescence in metal nanostructures is key for studying charge processes and applications like sensing and imaging.
• A comprehensive understanding of metal nanoparticle emission, particularly sequential mechanisms like Auger scattering, is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide spectroscopic evidence for Auger-excited intraband emission in gold nanoflowers.
• To elucidate the excitation pathways and emission mechanisms in these nanostructures.

Main Methods:

• Utilized photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopy.
• Analyzed excitation spectra for interband transitions and emission spectra for intraband recombination.

Main Results:

• Excitation spectra confirmed absorption via interband transitions.
• Emission spectra were unequivocally assigned to intraband recombination.
• The findings conclusively support Auger-excited intraband emission as the underlying mechanism.

Conclusions:

• Auger excitation is a viable route to generate nonthermal electrons significantly above the Fermi level.
• This mechanism holds promise for advancing nanoluminescent probes and plasmon catalysis.