Plasmonic nanoparticles

Plasmons are free electrons on the surface of metals that become excited by the input of energy, typically from light. Moving plasmons can transform optical energy into heat. Plasmonic nanoparticles are particles whose electron density can couple with electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths that are far larger than the particle. This is due to the nature of the dielectric-metal interface between the medium and the particles unlike in a pure metal where there is a maximum limit on what size wavelength can be effectively coupled based on the material size. Plasmonic nanoparticles also exhibit interesting scattering, absorbance, and coupling properties based on their geometries and relative positions. These unique properties have made them a focus of research in many applications including solar cells, spectroscopy, signal enhancement for imaging, and cancer treatment. Plasmonic gold nanoparticles Gold nanoparticles can be used for efficiently converting energy because of their optical