Tuned linear optical properties of gold-polymer nanocomposites

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry Vol. 19; no. 32; pp. 5744 - 5750
• Main Authors: CAROTENUTO, Gianfranco, LONGO, Angela, HISON, Cornelia Lorelai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 01.01.2009
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of bulk materials and thin films; Other topics in nanoscale materials and structures; Photoluminescence; Physics; Nanocluster; Gold; Frequency converters; Thermal decomposition; Photoluminescence; Visible spectra; Annealing temperature; Polystyrene; Surface plasmons; Optical polymers; Solid clusters; Composite materials; Nanocomposites; Optical properties; Optical sensors; Thermal annealing; Nanostructured materials
• ISSN: 0959-9428; 1364-5501
• DOI: 10.1039/b905047g

The linear optical properties of gold-polystyrene nanocomposites, obtained by thermal decomposition of gold dodecyl-mercaptide into polystyrene matrix, can be significantly manipulated in the visible range, from absorption to emission at specific wavelengths as a function of nanocluster size, by the sensitive and reliable control of the annealing parameters (temperature and time). The performed optical investigation shows that these composites combine the peculiar optical properties of the metallic nanophase (strong surface plasmon absorption/strong and stable photoluminescence in the visible range) with the outstanding transparent polymer characteristic, for advanced applications in optical sensors, frequency converters, anti-counterfeiting tags, etc.