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Surface Plasmon Dynamics of High-Aspect-Ratio Gold Nanorods

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Abstract

Ultrafast transient absorption studies are reported for high-aspect-ratio gold nanorods that were fabricated by electrochemical deposition in polycarbonate templates. The nanorods are 60 nm in diameter with distribution of lengths of up to 6 μm. The average aspect ratio was ∼50, resulting in a longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (SPRL) band in the mid-IR, as well as a transverse (SPRT) band in the visible. The rods were excited at 400 nm and probed at a range of wavelengths from the visible to the mid-IR to interrogate both SPR bands. The dynamics observed, including the electron–phonon coupling time and coherent acoustic breathing mode oscillations, closely resemble those previously reported for gold spherical nanoparticles and smaller-aspect-ratio nanorods. The electron–phonon coupling time was similarly determined to be 3.3 ± 0.2 ps for both of the SPR bands. Also, oscillations with a 32-ps period were observed for probing near the SPRT band in the visible region due to impulsive coherent excitation of the acoustic breathing mode, which are consistent with the 60-nm diameter of the nanorods determined by scanning electron microscopy. The results demonstrate that the dynamics for long gold nanorods are similar to those for smaller nanoparticles.

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Acknowledgements

Support for this work was provided by the Office of Naval Research through the Naval Research Laboratory. GMS acknowledges the Naval Research Laboratory–American Society for Engineering Education Postdoctoral Fellowship program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Division, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA

    Gerald M. Sando, Alan D. Berry, Paul M. Campbell, Andrew P. Baronavski & Jeffrey C. Owrutsky

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  1. Gerald M. Sando
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  2. Alan D. Berry
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  3. Paul M. Campbell
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  4. Andrew P. Baronavski
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  5. Jeffrey C. Owrutsky
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Correspondence to Jeffrey C. Owrutsky.

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Gerald M. Sando is a NRL-ASEE Research Associate

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Sando, G.M., Berry, A.D., Campbell, P.M. et al. Surface Plasmon Dynamics of High-Aspect-Ratio Gold Nanorods. Plasmonics 2, 23–29 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-006-9021-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-006-9021-8

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