Research of plasmonic properties of metal nanoparticles (Me NPs) is currently intensifying due to their unique optical, electrical and optomechanical features. Because of these properties, Me NPs are widely applied in photocatalysis, nonlinear optics, sensors, solar cells and etc. For many applications, the efficiency of the effect generated by Me NPs depends on the features of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) relaxation. LSPR relaxation consists of several steps and the duration or other characteristics of each of these processes can affect the scope of applications of the corresponding Me NPs. Therefore, it is essential to systematically study the relaxation properties of Me NPs LSPR and to relate them to nanoparticle dimensions, crystallinity and other properties. This would allow in the future during the synthesis of Me NPs to “select” the desired optoelectric properties by varying their size, shape, monodispersity, crystallinity, or selecting the most suitable plasmonic metal. It is also important to compare the properties of NPs synthesized by different methods, including colloid chemistry, magnetic sputtering and laser ablation in liquid. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) measurements are particularly suitable for these studies. Course the internship, research will be conducted on various Me NPs prepared by colloidal chemistry, laser ablation in liquid, and other synthesis methods. During the research will be investigated the size and shape distributions of colloidal Me ND solutions influence the properties of LSPR, which will be quantified during TAS measurements. At the end of the internship, a guideline for plasmonic nanoparticle analysis with TAS will be developed, specifying how the size and structure of nanoparticles determine the properties of LSPR.
Project funding:
Project is funded by EU Structural Funds according to the 2014–2020 Operational Programme for the European Union Funds’ Investments priority “Development of scientific competence of researchers, other researchers, students through practical scientific activities” under Measure No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712.
Period of project implementation: 2019-10-15 - 2020-04-30
Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology
