title: White light scattering spectroscopy and electron microscopy of laser induced melting in single gold nanorods.
abstract: We present the first measurements of laser induced melting and reshaping of single gold nanorods. Using a combination of white light scattering spectroscopy and electron microscopy we find a melting energy of 260 fJ for nanorods with an average size of 92 x 30 nm. Contrary to previous reports on ensembles of nanorods, this melting energy corresponds well to the theoretical prediction of 225 fJ. We observe a gradual shape change from a long and thin rod to a shorter and wider rod, which eventually collapses into a sphere when enough laser energy is deposited. We also observe that higher aspect ratio particles are thermodynamically less stable, leading to a greater reduction of the aspect ratio at lower laser pulse energy densities.
authors: Centre for Micro-Photonics, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, P. O. Box 218, Hawthorn 3122, VIC, Australia.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Zijlstra
authors: James W M
authors: JW
authors: Chon
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Gu
mesh_terms: D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D007834:Lasers; D008027:Light; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D006046:Gold