Size-dependent electron-electron interactions in metal nanoparticles
The internal thermalization dynamics of the conduction electrons is investigated in silver nanoparticles with radius ranging from 13 to 1.6 nm using a femtosecond IR pump-UV probe absorption saturation technique. A sharp increase of the electron energy exchange rate is demonstrated for nanoparticles smaller than 5 nm. The results are consistent with electron-electron scattering acceleration due to surface induced reduction of the Coulomb interaction screening by the conduction and core electrons.
Voisin
C
Laboratoire d'Optique Quantique du CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau cedex, France.
Christofilos
D
Del Fatti N
Vallee
F
Prevel
B
Cottancin
E
Lerme
J
Pellarin
M
Broyer
M