Modified Au-Based Nanomaterials Studied by Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy (eBook)

Supervisors’ Foreword 8
Preface 10
Acknowledgments 14
Contents 15
1 Introduction: Surface Plasmons 18
1.1 Introduction 18
1.2 Brief History 19
1.3 Theory: Surface Plasmons 21
1.3.1 Surface Plasmons in Metal Nanostructures 22
1.3.2 Surface Plasmons in Metal Films 29
1.4 Surface Plasmons Today 39
1.5 Aims of This Work 40
1.6 Organization of the Work 41
References 41
2 Experimental Techniques 45
2.1 Introduction 45
2.2 Sample Growth 45
2.2.1 Thin Film Growth by Thermal Evaporation 46
2.2.2 Fabrication of Nanostructures by Annealing of Thin Films 51
2.3 Reflected Light Optical Microscopy (RLOM) 52
2.4 Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) 53
2.5 Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) 53
2.6 Thickness Determination of the Films 55
2.6.1 X-Ray Reflectivity (XRR) 55
2.6.2 Relation Between the Thickness of Films and Their Integrated Absorbance 56
2.7 Raman Spectroscopy 57
2.8 X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) 59
2.9 Optical Absorption Spectroscopy 62
2.10 Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) in the Kretschmann-Raether Configuration 63
2.10.1 Software to Measure SPR Spectra 67
2.10.2 Reproducibility of SPR Spectra 67
2.10.3 Capabilities of the Experimental Setup 68
2.10.4 Software to Simulate SPR Spectra 70
References 71
3 Extended and Localized Surface Plasmons in Annealed Au Films on Glass Substrates 74
3.1 Introduction 74
3.2 Fabrication of Samples 75
3.3 Experimental Details 76
3.4 Morphological Characterization of Samples 76
3.5 Optical Characterization of Samples 82
3.5.1 Extended Surface Plasmon Resonance 82
3.5.2 Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance 84
3.6 Conclusions 86
References 87
4 Complex Au/FeOx Nanostructures Obtained from Annealed Bilayers 88
4.1 Introduction 88
4.2 Experimental Details 89
4.3 Au/FeOx Nanostructures Obtained by Annealing in Air 90
4.3.1 Fabrication of Samples Prepared in Air 90
4.3.2 Morphological Characterization of Samples Prepared in Air 93
4.3.3 Confocal Raman Characterization of Samples Prepared in Air 102
4.3.4 Optical Characterization of Samples Prepared in Air 111
4.4 Au/FeOx Nanostructures Obtained by Annealing in Low Vacuum 113
4.4.1 Fabrication of Samples Prepared in Low Vacuum 113
4.4.2 Morphological Characterization of Samples Prepared in Low Vacuum 115
4.4.3 Confocal Raman Characterization of Samples Prepared in Low Vacuum 120
4.4.4 Optical Characterization of Samples Prepared in Low Vacuum 128
4.5 Conclusions 129
References 129
5 Combination of Surface Plasmon Resonance and X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopies. Experimental Setup 133
5.1 Introduction 133
5.2 Description of Experimental Setup 134
5.2.1 Alignment of the Beams 137
5.2.2 Spot Size of the Beams 139
5.3 Resolution of the Experimental Setup 139
5.3.1 Reproducibility of SPR Spectra 140
5.3.2 Reproducibility of XAS Spectra 140
5.4 Capabilities of the Experimental Setup 141
5.4.1 Study of SPR upon X-Ray Irradiation 141
5.4.2 Experimental Setup to Study Instantaneous Effects 145
5.4.3 XAS Measurements upon Surface Plasmon Excitation 146
5.5 Conclusions 147
References 148
6 In-Situ Study of Glasses Irradiated with X-rays by Surface Plasmon Resonance 149
6.1 Introduction 149
6.2 Fabrication of Samples 151
6.3 Experimental Details 151
6.4 Study of Soda-Lime Glasses by SPR-XAS Setup 151
6.5 Study of Silica Glasses by SPR-XAS Setup 161
6.6 Conclusions 166
References 167
7 Study of Co-Phthalocyanines Irradiated with X-Rays by Surface Plasmon Resonance 169
7.1 Introduction 169
7.2 Fabrication of Samples 171
7.3 Experimental Details 172
7.4 Study of Co-Phthalocyanines by SPR-XAS Setup 173
7.4.1 SPR of Au Thin Films Irradiated with X-Rays 173
7.4.2 SPR of CoPc/Au Samples Irradiated with X-Rays 175
7.5 Raman Spectroscopy of CoPc/Au Samples Irradiated with X-Rays 182
7.6 Conclusions 188
References 189
8 Conclusions 191
Appendix AEstimation of Changes in the SPR Curveupon X-ray Irradiation 194