title: Synthesis of gold nanoparticles by laser ablation in toluene: quenching and recovery of the surface plasmon absorption.
abstract: Gold nanoparticles are synthesized by laser ablation of a gold plate in toluene. The nanoparticles do not show their characteristic surface plasmon absorption (SPA) and are found to be included in a graphitic matrix. The absence of this absorption is found to derive from the presence of the matrix which prevents the growth of large nanoparticles and covers them, suppressing the SPA according to the Mie model for core@shell particles. It is possible to recover the nanoparticle SPA by oxidizing the carbon matrix, obtaining, therefore, some control on the activity of this absorption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, I-35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Amendola
authors.forename: Gian Andrea
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rizzi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polizzi
authors.forename: Moreno
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meneghetti