Gold nanocrescent (AuNC) structures demonstrate localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) that occur at highly tunable wavelengths over a broad spectral range, support localized, enhanced electromagnetic fields and can be selectively excited via polarization of light.  We used nanosphere template lithography based on polystyrene bead templates to fabricate AuNCs.  Random dispersion of the polystyrene templates resulted in isolated nanocrescents with optical properties that were studied using ensemble-based measurements.  Dense, ordered arrays of AuNCs were also fabricated by hexagonally close-packing monolayers of polystyrene beads and using an etching process to reduce template diameter while maintaining organization.  Nanocrescent arrays exhibit higher extinction values, infrared peak broadening, visible peak narrowing and overall blue-shifting of the plasmon bands compared to isolated nanocrescents.  Implications of the plasmonic properties of isolated and ordered arrays of nanocrescents for application as substrates for surface enhanced spectroscopies, LSPR sensing and non-linear spectroscopy and imaging will be discussed.

Plasmonic properties of gold nanocrescents as isolated structures and in ordered arrays

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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