Correlated 3D Nanoscale Mapping and Simulation of Coupled Plasmonic Nanoparticles.
Electron tomography in combination with electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) experiments and simulations was used to unravel the interplay between structure and plasmonic properties of a silver nanocuboid dimer. The precise 3D geometry of the particles fabricated by means of electron beam lithography was reconstructed through electron tomography, and the full three-dimensional information was used as an input for simulations of energy-loss spectra and plasmon resonance maps. Excellent agreement between experiment and theory was found throughout, bringing the comparison between EELS imaging and simulations to a quantitative and correlative level. In addition, interface mode patterns, normally masked by the projection nature of a transmission microscopy investigation, could be unambiguously identified through tomographic reconstruction. This work overcomes the need for geometrical assumptions or symmetry restrictions of the sample in simulations and paves the way for detailed investigations of realistic and complex plasmonic nanostructures.
Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy, Steyrergasse 17, 8010 Graz, Austria.|Institute for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis, Graz University of Technology , Steyrergasse 17, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Georg
G
Haberfehlner
Institute of Physics, University of Graz , Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Andreas
A
Trügler
Institute for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis, Graz University of Technology , Steyrergasse 17, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Franz P
FP
Schmidt
Institute of Physics, University of Graz , Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Anton
A
Hörl
Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy, Steyrergasse 17, 8010 Graz, Austria.|Institute for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis, Graz University of Technology , Steyrergasse 17, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Ferdinand
F
Hofer
Institute of Physics, University of Graz , Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Ulrich
U
Hohenester
Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy, Steyrergasse 17, 8010 Graz, Austria.|Institute for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis, Graz University of Technology , Steyrergasse 17, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Gerald
G
Kothleitner
Plasmonics; electron beam lithography; electron energy loss spectroscopy; electron tomography; nanoparticles