This research explored the optical properties of metal nanoparticles using the discrete dipole approximation (DDA). A method was developed to define nanoparticle structures of arbitrary shapes, and this method was interfaced with the preexisting DDA code, DDSCAT 6.1. For each structure and material, the scattering properties and near electric-field enhancements were calculated, which are important for predicting the intensity of surfaceenhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Aluminum nanostructures exhibited UV and near-UV plasmon resonances and electric-field enhancements up to 103 . Palladium exhibited enhancements of only 90. A dimer structure consisting of a silver sphere and a rod exhibited enhancements up to 105, which are large enough to observe single-molecule SERS. 

Last modified

• 07/19/2018

Creator

• Benjamin J. Faber
• Jon P. Camden
• George C. Schatz

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/N29H8H

Keyword

• Volume 5

Date created

• 2008

Resource type

• Article

Rights statement

• In Copyright