title: Surface coating effects on the assembly of gold nanospheres.
abstract: Optical spectra and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of individually selected spheres and mechanically assembled silica-coated gold nanosphere pairs were recorded. The shell served as a means of rigid control of the minimum spacing between the metal cores. The spectra of the assembled spheres were simulated using classical electrodynamics. The observed spectra resulted in superior characterization of the particle assembly geometry, relative to the AFM data. Experimental investigations regarding less-rigid polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) sphere coatings were also performed and some comparisons were made.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
authors.forename: Kent A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polemi
authors.forename: Kevin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Shuford
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Whitten
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Shaw