Jiangshan Luo

Ordered array of Ag semishells on different diameter monolayer polystyrene colloidal crystals: An ultrasensitive and reproducible SERS substrate

Ag semishells (AgSS) ordered arrays for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy have been prepared by depositing Ag film onto polystyrene colloidal particle (PSCP) monolayer templates array. The diversified activity for SERS activity with the ordered AgSS arrays mainly depends on the PSCP diameter and Ag film thickness. The high SERS sensitivity and reproducibility are proved by the detection of rhodamine 6G (R6G) and 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) molecules. The prominent enhancements of SERS are mainly from the “V”-shaped or “U”-shaped nanogaps on AgSS, which are experimentally and theoretically investigated. The higher SERS activity, stability and reproducibility make the ordered AgSS a promising choice for practical SERS low concentration detection applications.

In situ organic coating of metal nanoparticles

A physical approach has been developed to in situ coat metal nanoparticles with a nanolayer of organic hydrocarbon film. Copper nanoparticles produced by the flow-levitation method were in situ coated with hydrocarbon films via a dielectric barrier discharge. The hydrocarbon-coated Cu nanoparticles have been analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and infrared absorption to determine the size distribution and dispersion of nanoparticles as well as the chemical components and thickness of the coatings.

Dipole, Quadrupole, and Octupole Plasmon Resonance Modes in Ag Nanoring Structure: Local Field Enhancement in the Visible and Near Infrared Regions

Here, we provide a simulation based on finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) way of the properties of surface plasmons on Ag nanoring and study their electric field distribution in order to identify different multiple surface plasmon resonances. We can obtain the symmetric field distribution that parallels to the orientation of direction of incident light. We find their propagation can be controlled. And we discuss some of the parameters that influence the optical response of the Ag nanoring. Adjustment of nanoring radius (inner radius and outer radius) and height can change the absorption intensity and the resonance peaks. The simulation of the field distribution also displays that the location of the field enhancement is specified by the different resonance patterns. Dipole, quadrupole, and octupole plasmon resonance modes can be found in the Ag nanoring at resonance wavelength. This is an important step toward a thorough understanding of plasmon resonance in Ag nanorings.

Correlations of the Stability, Static Dipole Polarizabilities, and Electronic Properties of Yttrium Clusters

Static dipole polarizabilities for the ground-state geometries of yttrium clusters (Yn, n < or = 15) are investigated by using the numerically finite field method in the framework of density functional theory. The structural size dependence of electronic properties, such as the highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gap, ionization energy, electron affinity, chemical hardness and softness, etc., has been determined for yttrium clusters. The energetic analysis, minimum polarizability principle, and principle of maximum hardness are used to characterize the stability of yttrium clusters. The correlations of stability, static dipole polarizabilities, and electronic properties are analyzed especially. The results show that static polarizability and electronic structure can reflect obviously the stability of yttrium clusters. The static polarizability per atom decreases slowly with an increase in the cluster size and exhibits a local minimum at the magic number cluster. The ratio of the mean static polarizability to the HOMO-LUMO gap has a much lower value for the most stable clusters. The static dipole polarizabilities of yttrium clusters are highly dependent on their electronic properties and are also partly related to their geometrical characteristics. A large HOMO-LUMO gap of an yttrium cluster usually corresponds to a large dipole moment. Strong correlative relationships of the ionization potential, softness, and static dipole polarizability are observed for yttrium clusters.

Mesoporous gold sponges: electric charge-assisted seed mediated synthesis and application as surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates

Mesoporous gold sponges were prepared using 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP)-stabilized Au seeds. This is a general process, which involves a simple template-free method, room temperature reduction of HAuCl4·4H2O with hydroxylamine. The formation process of mesoporous gold sponges could be accounted for the electrostatic interaction (the small Au nanoparticles (~3 nm) and the positively charged DMAP-stabilized Au seeds) and Ostwald ripening process. The mesoporous gold sponges had appeared to undergo electrostatic adsorption initially, sequentially linear aggregation, welding and Ostwald ripening, then, they randomly cross link into self-supporting, three-dimensional networks with time. The mesoporous gold sponges exhibit higher surface area than the literature. In addition, application of the spongelike networks as an active material for surface-enhanced Raman scattering has been investigated by employing 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) molecules as a probe.

In situ encapsulation of copper nanoparticles by the dielectric barrier discharge

An experimental investigation is reported on in situ encapsulating copper nanoparticles with a nanolayer of hydrocarbon coating. Copper nanoparticles produced by the flow-levitation method are in situ encapsulated by the dielectric barrier discharge, which generates carbon and hydrogen plasmas for forming a polymerized nanolayer of hydrocarbon at the surface of Cu nanoparticles. The structural, chemical components and optical properties of the encapsulated Cu nanoparticles are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectra, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectra, and UV-visible absorption.

Nanoparticle attachment on Ag nanorings and nanoantenna for large increases of surface-enhanced Raman scattering

A simple and inexpensive approach based on the heat-treatment of Ag+/PVA/PVP composite film on quartz glass has been developed for fabricating large-area Ag nanorings attached small nanoparticles. The explosive decomposition of AgNO3, PVA and PVP by calcination could explain their formation. A maximum enhancement factor of 1.9 × 1010 can be obtained with the self-organized Ag nanorings attached small nanoparticles. Moreover, using the three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (3D-FDTD) simulations, we stipulate that the EF can be obviously improved via some small Ag particle attachment on these nanorings because of the strong coupling between the discrete plasmon states of the small nanoparticles and the term of propagating plasmons of the Ag nanorings. Understanding and realization of the enhancing mechanism of nanostructured surface attachment small nanoparticles could have potential to effectively improve the SERS property of the SERS substrates.

Self-Organized Ag Nanorings Antenna Substrates for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

We investigate the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of Ag nanorings antenna in both experiment and simulation. Self-organized Ag nanorings antenna were formed on quartz glass wafers by a simple chemistry reaction without any template. The three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulation calculations indicate that the electric field enhancement of Ag nanoring antenna is strongly dependent on the gap distance. A very strong surface plasmon coupling in the gap region of Ag nanoring antenna is observed, whose field intensity is enhanced four times compared to that for Ag nanodomes antenna with the same gap distance. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements have shown that the SERS intensity acquired from the Ag nanoring antenna is about 16 times stronger than that obtained from Ag nanodomes antenna. These results pave the way to design plasmonic nanostructures for practical applications that require coupled metallic nanoparticles with enhanced electric fields.

Synthesis and characterization of single-phase nanocrystalline Ag2Al particles

Single-phase Ag2Al intermetallic nanoparticles, and Ag and Al metallic nanoparticles were synthesized by the flow-levitation (FL) method. Measurements of d-spacings from X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction confirmed that the intermetallic nanoparticles had the hexagonal Ag2Al structure. The morphology, crystal structure and chemical composition of Ag2Al nanoparticles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and induction-coupled plasma spectroscopy. A thin amorphous coating was formed around the particles when exposed to air. Based on the XPS measurements, the surface coating of the Ag2Al nanoparticles could most likely be aluminum oxide or silver aluminum oxide. Therefore, the single-phase nanocrystalline Ag2Al intermetallic compound particles can be produced by adjusting some experimental parameters in FL method.

Nanodisk-Induced Modification of Plasmon Coupling and Appearance of Fano Resonance Without Symmetry Breaking in Concentric Ag Nanoring-Nanodisk

Simulation based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) has been performed, and theoretical models comprising concentric Ag nanoring-nanodisk of different parameters have been constructed to research their plasmon properties. According to unique electronic properties of concentric nanoring-nanodisk, abundant plasmon properties could be obtained at their interfaces, including dipole, quadrupole, and octupole plasmon resonance modes. Complex field distributions which are induced by concentric nanoring-nanodisk support the possibility to create dark resonance mode. This can lead to Fano-like resonance combining with bright resonance mode by predominantly dipole resonance. A concentric nanoring-nanodisk system has been proved to support Fano-like resonance without symmetry breaking. At the frequency of the Fano resonance, strong localized optical fields can be obtained. Narrow spectral features with high local fields of Fano resonances make it possible to achieve many applications based on surface plasmon property.