Bonding of gold clusters, , 16, and 20, on MgO(100) and on thin MgO films supported on Mo(100) is investigated using first-principles density-functional theory. Enhanced adhesive bonding is found for clusters deposited on metal-supported MgO films of thickness up to about 1 nm, or 4 to 5 MgO layers, originating from electrostatic interaction between the underlying metal and metal-induced excess...

We introduce the concept of optical control of the fluorescence yield of CdSe quantum dots through plasmon-induced structural changes in random semicontinuous nanostructured gold films. We demonstrate that the wavelength- and polarization dependent coupling between quantum dots and the semicontinuous films, and thus the fluorescent emission spectrum, can be controlled and significantly increase...

Highly ordered freestanding honeycomb films with asymmetric through-pore structures were prepared from polystyrene/gold-nanoparticles (PS/AuNPs) nanocomposite at an air/water interface using a one-step interfacial self-assembly method.

We report the realization of a two-dimensional optical microscope for surface plasmons polaritons (SPPs) based on parabolic Bragg mirrors. These mirrors are built from lithographically fabricated gold nanostructures on gold thin films. We show by direct imaging by leakage radiation microscopy that the magnification power of the SPP microscope follows basic predictions of geometrical optics. Spa...

The optical properties of thin gold films with thickness varying from 2.5 nm to 30 nm are investigated. Due to the quantum size effect, the optical constants of the thin gold film deviate from the Drudemodel for bulkmaterial as film thickness decreases, especially around 2.5 nm, where the electron energy level becomes discrete. A theory based on the self-consistent solution of the Schrödinger e...

The propagation of laser-excited surface plasmons along a gold film with surface roughness is directly observed via scattered light. The attenuation length of surface plasmons in a broad wavelength interval is calculated for smooth gold and silver films. The surface roughness, which was characterized with an AFM, introduces corrections to the attenuation length, angular dependence of the surfac...

We describe the use of self-assembled films of thiolated (dT)25 single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) on gold as a model system for quantitative characterization of DNA films by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We evaluate the applicability of a uniform and homogeneous overlayer-substrate model for data analysis, examine model parameters used to describe DNA films (e.g., density and electron atten...

We demonstrate a simple one-step method for synthesizing noble metal nanoparticle embedded free standing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite films. The process involves preparing a homogenous mixture of metal salt (silver, gold and platinum), silicone elastomer and the curing agent (hardener) followed by curing. During the curing process, the hardener crosslinks the elastomer and simultaneous...

We perform in this paper a kinetic study of the photoelectrochemical responses of nanoporous thin photoactive films. The films were fabricated by by a layer-by-layer assembly of positively charged polyelectrolytes (poly-l-Lysine, pLys) and negatively charged semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) on a carboxylic acid terminated alkanethiol-modified gold electrode. Two types of NPs were used to build...