Growth of Solid and Hollow Gold Particles through the Thermal Annealing of Nanoscale Patterned Thin Films

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013 Nov 27;5(22):11590-6. doi: 10.1021/am402633u. Epub 2013 Nov 5.

Abstract

Through thermally annealing well-arrayed, circular, nanoscale thin films of gold, deposited onto [111] silicon/silicon dioxide substrates, both solid and hollow gold particles of different morphologies with controllable sizes were obtained. The circular thin films formed individual particles or clusters of particles by tuning their diameter. Hollow gold particles were characterized by their diameter, typically larger than 400 nm; these dimensions and properties were confirmed by cross-section scanning electron microscopy. Hollow gold particles also exhibited plasmonic field enhancement under photoemission electron microscopy. Potential growth mechanisms for these structures were explored.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.