Plasmonic coupling from silver nanoparticle dimer array mediating surface plasmon resonant enhancement on the thin silver film

We investigate the optical absorption spectrum of a periodic array of silver nanoparticle dimer on a thin silver film using multiple-scattering formalism. Surface plasmon polariton mediated from silver nanoparticle dimer array is excited and enhanced by about four times compared with that from monomer array. This enhancement results from the coupling between the two nanoparticles’ plasmons of symmetry mode and anti-symmetry mode. We also illustrate the distance-dependent nanoparticle plasmonic coupling modes based on the polarized charge distribution in dimer geometry. The proposed silver nanoparticle dimer array can be used to enhance surface spectroscopy.     

基于几何遮蔽效应和法拉第旋光效应耦合的磁流体偏振光透过率

根据几何遮蔽效应和法拉第旋光效应耦合原理给出的解析表达式,通过数值模拟计算,研究了磁流体的纵场诱导偏振光透过率及磁流体的浓度、液态介电常量、磁性颗粒磁偶极矩热能比和单位磁性颗粒团聚体所含磁性颗粒数量四个参量的变化对其偏振光透过率的影响.结果表明,磁流体的浓度、液态介电常量和磁性颗粒磁偶极矩热能比对其偏振光透过率有显著影响,低浓度样品的偏振光透过率随着纵向磁场强度的增大而线性增加,而高浓度样品则随着纵向磁场强度的增大呈现振荡变化的特性.在一定范围内,磁流体偏振光透过率随其液态介电常量εliquid和磁性颗粒磁偶极矩热能比μd/(kT)的变大而增加.而单位磁性颗粒团聚体所含磁性颗粒数量对其偏振光透过率没有影响,磁流体参量依赖的偏振光透过率在低磁场区域和高磁场区域有明显区别.提出了磁流体纵场诱导偏振光透过率在几类光子器件中的可能应用.     

基于几何遮蔽效应和法拉第旋光效应耦合的磁流体偏振光透过率

根据几何遮蔽效应和法拉第旋光效应耦合原理给出的解析表达式,通过数值模拟计算,研究了磁流体的纵场诱导偏振光透过率及磁流体的浓度、液态介电常量、磁性颗粒磁偶极矩热能比和单位磁性颗粒团聚体所含磁性颗粒数量四个参量的变化对其偏振光透过率的影响.结果表明,磁流体的浓度、液态介电常量和磁性颗粒磁偶极矩热能比对其偏振光透过率有显著影响,低浓度样品的偏振光透过率随着纵向磁场强度的增大而线性增加,而高浓度样品则随着纵向磁场强度的增大呈现振荡变化的特性.在一定范围内,磁流体偏振光透过率随其液态介电常量ε_liquid和磁性颗粒磁偶极矩热能比μ_d/(kT)的变大而增加.而单位磁性颗粒团聚体所含磁性颗粒数量对其偏振光透过率没有影响,磁流体参量依赖的偏振光透过率在低磁场区域和高磁场区域有明显区别.提出了磁流体纵场诱导偏振光透过率在几类光子器件中的可能应用.     

Super-resolution imaging of low-contrast periodic nanoparticle arrays by microsphere-assisted microscopy

We use the label-free microsphere-assisted microscopy to image low-contrast hexagonally close-packed polystyrene nanoparticle arrays with diameters of 300 and 250 nm.When a nanoparticle array is directly placed on a glass slide,it cannot be distinguished.If a 30-nm-thick Ag film is deposited on the surface of a nanoparticle array,the nanoparticle array with nanoparticle diameters of 300 and 250 nm can be distinguished.In addition,the Talbot effect of the 300-nm-diameter nanoparticle array is also observed.If a nanoparticle sample is assembled on a glass slide deposited with a 30-nm-thick Ag film,an array of 300-nm-diameter nanoparticles can be discerned.We propose that in microsphere-assisted microscopy imaging,the resolution can be improved by the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons(SPPs) on the sample surface or at the sample/substrate interface,and a higher near-field intensity due to the excited SPPs would benefit the resolution improvement.Our study of label-free super-resolution imaging of low-contrast objects will promote the applications of microsphere-assisted microscopy in life sciences.     

Au纳米颗粒阵列中双光子吸收的饱和过程

采用纳米球蚀刻法制备了Au纳米颗粒阵列.并通过扫描电子显微镜观测了其表面形貌,表明三角形的Au纳米颗粒呈阵列状分布.采用Z扫描方法(800 nm, 50 fs)测量了Au纳米颗粒阵列的三阶非线性光学特性.在较小的激发功率下,结果呈现出双光子吸收效应,随着激发功率不断增加,出现了双光子吸收饱和的过程;非线性折射则呈现出自散焦效应.这种高效率的非线性响应机理使得该种Au纳米颗粒阵列在高速全光开关中有潜在的应用价值. 关键词： 纳米球蚀刻技术 Au纳米颗粒 三阶光学非线性     

利用分光计测反射光的偏振特性

当光照射到物体时,由于物体表面的反射作用,我们将会得到偏振光.这种光是部分偏振光.研究偏振光的特性可以让我们认识物体的状态或鉴别某种物质,因此,研究偏振光是非常具有现实意义的.本文将介绍用分光计测反射光的偏振特性,研究其随入射角变化的关系,并粗略验证菲涅尔公式.     

Efficient optical near-field energy transfer along an Au nanodot coupler with size-dependent resonance

We confirmed that the light intensity (λ=785 nm) scattered from an isolated hemispherical Au nanoparticle was resonantly enhanced at a diameter of 200 nm and a height of 50 nm, as observed experimentally using a collection-mode near-field optical microscope. The experimental results agreed with the calculated results using Mie’s theory. Furthermore, we observed resonant energy transfer of the optical near-field energy along a chain of Au nanoparticles. The magnitude of the transferred energy increased resonantly at the size of resonant light scattering for an isolated Au nanoparticle (200 nm diameter with 240 nm center-to-center separation). PACS 42.82.Et; 73.20.Mf; 78.67.Bf     

单个及阵列状金纳米环结构的LSPR光谱特性研究

In this paper, we simulate Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance（LSPR） absorption of periodic Au nano-ring arrays and single Au nanopal,ticles using the Finite Difference Time Domain （FDTD） method. We choose input plane waves of different wavelengths and discuss the relation between the absorption peak of the Au array and the variable external dielectric constants. It is found that the sensitivity of these sensors based on LSPR is improved compared to the common sensors and the enhancement is caused by the periodical structure. We also investigate the spectrum characteristic of a single Au nanoparticle and discuss the relation between the absorption peak and the size of the nanoparticle.     

Au@碳球复合结构中Au颗粒位置调控光吸收

采用时域有限差分（FDTD）法研究Au纳米颗粒@碳球（AuNPs@CS）复合结构的光吸收控制。发现Au纳米颗粒@碳球复合结构中Au颗粒的位置可以控制复合结构光吸收。模型计算中选取两粒Au纳米颗粒以最佳深度（0 nm）嵌入碳球表面。当两粒Au颗粒球心与碳球球心夹角为22.5°和45°时,复合结构光吸收较单一碳球光吸收明显增强;当夹角为315°、270°、180°、90°时,光吸收增量逐渐减小;当夹角为337.5°时,光吸收量低于单一碳球。这一结果主要归因于Au纳米颗粒位置变化可引起表面等离子体光强度和光散射方向的变化。改变碳球表面Au纳米颗粒的数量和位置,可以进一步调节AuNPs@CS复合结构的光吸收。     

Object reconstruction in scattering medium using multiple elliptical polarized speckle contrast projections and optical clearing agents

In this paper, we present a hybrid method for improving the imaging quality of objects obscured within a scattering environment by combining multiple elliptical polarized speckle contrast projections with the use of optical clearing agents (OCAs). Elliptically polarized light enables the probing of subsurface volumes, where OCAs decrease light scattering while increasing photons׳ penetration depth through the medium. Experiments were conducted on object sample and prostate cancer cells embedded within ex vivo biological samples (chicken breasts) in reflection configuration. After immersion with OCAs, the medium was irradiated with an elliptically polarized laser beam and multiple polarized speckled images obtained from a lens array were first converted to speckled contrast images and then processed using a self-deconvolution shift-and-add algorithm. The conversion to contrast images and multiple perspectives acquisition was found to emphasize contrast. Analysis of image quality indicated improvement in object visualization by the combination of elliptical polarization and OCAs. This enhanced imaging strategy may advance the development of improved methods in biomedicine field, specifically biomedical tomography.     

Nucleation of Polypropylene Crystallization with Gold Nanoparticles. Part 2: Relation between Particle Morphology and Nucleation Activity

The influence of gold nanoparticle morphology on nucleation of isotactic polypropylene (PP) crystallization was investigated. Previous experiments indicated certain nucleation activity of gold nanoparticles, varying with their size. In this work, eight types of gold micro/nanoparticles were used: vacuum-sputtered nanostructures (nanoparticles, nanoislands, and nanolayers), chemically prepared isometric gold nanocrystals (5, 20, and 100 nm diameters), and two types of gold microcrystals with well-developed crystal facets [with (100) and (111) facets, respectively]. To minimize the effect of particle agglomeration, we used our recently introduced sandwich method, in which the nucleating agent was deposited between thin PP films and the nucleation was evaluated by polarized light microscopy (PLM), X-ray scattering (WAXS), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The nucleation activity of Au particles in PP was lower than it might be expected from the previous studies and depended on their morphology. The nucleation activity of Au microcrystals with well-developed facets was higher than the activity of non-faceted Au nanocrystals.     

Strain distributions of confined Au/Ag and Ag/Au nanoparticles

The strain distributions of Au/Ag and Ag/Au nanoparticles confined in the Al2O3 matrix with different core sizes are investigated by using the finite element method, respectively. The simulation results clearly indicate that the compressive strains exerted on the Au/Ag and Ag/Au nanoparticles can be induced by the Al2O3 matrix. Moreover, it can be found that the strain gradient existing in a Au/Ag nanoparticle is much larger than that in a Ag/Au nanoparticle, which could be due to the larger Young's modulus of Au than that of Ag. With the core size increasing, the strain gradient existing in the Au/Ag nanoparticle becomes larger, while the strain gradient existing in the Ag/Au nanoparticle keeps constant. These different strain distributions may have significant influences on the structures and morphologies of the Au/Ag and Ag/Au nanoparticles, leading to the different physical properties for potential applications.     

Brighter glow in ZnS nanocrystals with polarized light

No known reports exist on luminescence enhancement under polarized light excitation. In this study, ZnS nanocrystals have been observed to produce brighter luminescence when excited by polarized light. ZnS:Mn bulk and nanocrystals have shown fivefold to tenfold increase in photoluminescence (PL) intensity when excited with linearly polarized light at 305 nm and 340 nm. Luminescence enhancement to a lesser degree was observed with linearly polarized light excitation for ZnS:Cu, Al and ZnS:Ag, Al nanocrystals. The observations suggest emission intensity dependence on the degree of anisotropy, which could be correlated mainly with the symmetry of the luminescence center and also to a lesser extent with nanoparticle shape asymmetry.     

Fluorescence enhancement of the conjugated polymer films based on well-ordered Au nanoparticle arrays

In this paper, well-ordered Au nanoparticle arrays on silicon substrates were employed as efficient metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) substrates for investigating the fluorescence properties of the conjugated polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). The ordered Au nanoparticle arrays were fabricated by block copolymer self-assembly technology, and the particle sizes were controlled by adjusting the molar ratios of HAuCl₄ precursor to vinyl pyridine units. The approach is economical and suitable to fabricate large-area MEF substrates. The results about fluorescence properties of P3HT showed that the fluorescence intensities of the P3HT films were improved on ordered Au nanoparticle arrays compared to those on bare silicon substrate and were significantly enhanced with the Au nanoparticle sizes increasing. The mechanism is based on localized surface plasmon resonances, coupling and propagating surface plasmons, and the emission enhancement mainly resulted from the increase of the excitation rate. This work provides a new way to prepare efficient MEF substrates for high-performance fluorescence-based devices.     

Effect of chromium interlayer deposition on periodic silver nanoparticle array structure fabricated by nanosphere lithography

Effect of chromium interlayer deposition on 2-dimensional, periodic silver nanoparticle array structure was systematically investigated. The silver nanoparticle array was fabricated by nanosphere lithography with assembled polystyrene nanospheres being as a deposition mask. The chromium interlayer was deposited by thermal evaporation either on the nanosphere mask or directly on the silicon substrate. The structures of the achieved silver nanoparticle arrays were characterized by scanning electron microscope and were compared with that of silver nanoparticle array without the interlayer. With analysis of the anomalies among the structures the critical role of the interlayer in the periodic nanoparticle array fabrication was revealed.     

Au-Pd共晶纳米粒子熔化行为的分子动力学研究

采用分子动力学方法结合嵌入原子势, 对Au-Pd共晶纳米粒子的热稳定性进行了模拟研究. 计算结果表明: Au-Pd纳米粒子的熔点明显高于Au单质纳米粒子而低于Pd纳米粒子. 通过计算Lindemann指数发现Au-Pd共晶纳米粒子中的Au原子首先熔化, 然后带动Pd原子的熔化; 熔化所经历的温度区间明显要宽于单质纳米粒子.     

Extinction of polarized light in ferrofluids with different magnetic particle concentrations

The magnetic field intensity and nanoparticle concentration dependence of the polarized light extinction in a ferrofluid made of magnetite particles stabilized with technical grade oleic acid dispersed in transformer oil was experimentally investigated. The magnetically induced optical anisotropy, i.e. the dichroism divided by concentration, was found to decrease with increasing sample concentration from 2% to 8%. The magnetically induced change in the optical extinction of light polarized at 54.74° with respect to the magnetic field direction was found to be positive for the less concentrated sample (2%) and negative for the samples with 4% and 8% magnetic nanoparticle concentrations, the more negative the higher the concentration and field intensity. Based on the theoretically proven fact [11] that the particle orientation mechanism has no effect on the extinction of light polarized at 54.74° with respect to the field direction, we analyzed the experimental findings in the frames of the agglomeration and long-range pair correlations theories for the magnetically induced optical anisotropy in ferrofluids. We developed a theoretical model in the approximation of single scattering for the optical extinction coefficient of a ferrofluid with magnetically induced particle agglomeration. The model predicts the existence of a polarization independent component of the optical extinction coefficient that is experimentally measurable at 54.74° polarization angle. The change in the optical extinction of light polarized at 54.74° is positive if only the formation of straight n-particle chains is considered and may become negative in the hypothesis that the longer chains degenerate to more isotropic structures (polymer-like coils, globules or bundles of chains). The model for the influence on the light absorption of the long-range pair correlations, published elsewhere, predicts that the change in the optical extinction of light polarized at 54.74° is always negative, the more negative the higher the magnetic field intensity and particle concentration.     

不同波长的散射介质后向散射光偏振度特性

基于Stockes矢量,通过测量以线偏振光和圆偏振光入射时脂肪乳剂后向散射光的偏振度,研究了532nm、650nm和780nm三个波长的光与散射粒子粒径为325nm的脂肪乳剂溶液作用后,其后向散射光的偏振度特性.研究结果表明,对于入射线偏振光,780nm波长后向散射光中的线偏振光成分多于圆偏振光成分,而532nm波长则相反;对于入射圆偏振光,三个波长后向散射光中的圆偏振光成分均多于线偏振光成分;532nm波长的总偏振度高于650nm和780nm两个波长各自的总偏振度;线偏振光的保偏性优于圆偏振光的保偏性,但偏振光在散射介质中的穿透深度较小.因此,后向散射成像技术适用于物体表层成像,而且选择波长略大于粒径的线偏振光可以提高成像质量.     

不同波长的散射介质后向散射光偏振度特性

基于Stockes矢量,通过测量以线偏振光和圆偏振光入射时脂肪乳剂后向散射光的偏振度,研究了532 nm、650 nm和780 nm三个波长的光与散射粒子粒径为325 nm的脂肪乳剂溶液作用后,其后向散射光的偏振度特性.研究结果表明,对于入射线偏振光,780 nm波长后向散射光中的线偏振光成分多于圆偏振光成分,而532 nm波长则相反;对于入射圆偏振光,三个波长后向散射光中的圆偏振光成分均多于线偏振光成分;532 nm波长的总偏振度高于650 nm和780 nm两个波长各自的总偏振度;线偏振光的保偏性优于圆偏振光的保偏性,但偏振光在散射介质中的穿透深度较小.因此,后向散射成像技术适用于物体表层成像,而且选择波长略大于粒径的线偏振光可以提高成像质量.     

金属粒子阵列共振的偏振特性

当金属纳米粒子形成规则分布且阵列周期与单粒子的共振波长近似匹配时, 会形成一种特殊的阵列共振, 这种共振比单粒子的局域表面等离子体共振具有更窄的共振线宽和更高的共振强度. 基于修正的长波近似方法, 讨论了矩形阵列的消光截面与阵列因子和单粒子的极化率之间的关系; 并详细研究了在不同偏振的入射光照射下, 阵列因子随着电偶极子方向的改变而产生的变化, 以及这一效应对阵列共振和消光截面所产生的影响. 结果表明, 大型的方阵是偏振无关的; 在矩形阵列中, 沿着阵列两个轴向的相邻粒子之间的耦合形成了阵列因子的两个极值, 并且分别对应了散射截面的最小值.