Remarkable magneto-optical properties of a new isolator material, that is, europium sulfide nanocrystals with gold (EuS-Au nanosystem), has been demonstrated for a future photo-information technology. Attachment of gold particles that exhibit surface plasmon resonance leads to amplification of the magneto-optical properties of the EuS nanocrystals. To construct the EuS-Au nanosystems, cubic EuS and spherical Au nanocrystals have been joined by a variety of organic linkers, that is, 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT), 1,6-hexanedithiol (HDT), 1,10-decanedithiol (DDT), 1,4-bisethanethionaphthalene (NpEDT), or 1,4-bisdecanethionaphthalene (NpDDT) . Formation of these systems was observed by XRD, TEM, and absorption spectra measurements. The magneto-optical properties of the EuS-Au nanosystem have been characterized by using Faraday rotation spectroscopy. The Faraday rotation angle of the EuS-Au nanosystem is dependent on the Au particle size and interparticle distance between EuS and Au nanocrystals. Enhancement of the Faraday rotation of EuS-Au nanosystems was observed. The spin configuration in the excited state of the EuS-Au nanosystem was also investigated using photo-assisted electron paramagnetic resonance.
Keywords: gold; nanoparticles; semiconductors; surface plasmon resonance.
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