2021/10/01 by Jesil Jose, Jose, Jesil, Ludmilla Schumacher +9
Engineering · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Chemical engineering #Chemical physics #Condensed matter physics #Engineering #FOS: Physical sciences #Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications #Ideal (ethics) #Laser-Ablation Synthesis of Nanoparticles #Materials science #Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall) #Nanotechnology #Optics (physics.optics) #Particle (ecology) #Particle size #Physics #Political science #Quantum #Quantum dot #Quantum mechanics #Surface and Thin Film Phenomena #cond-mat.mes-hall #physics.optics
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2110.00431
published in arXiv (Cornell University) (Cornell University)
arxiv created 2021/10/01 · openalex publication_date 2021/10/01 · arxiv updated 2021/10/04 · openalex created_date 2021/10/11 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We report on the nanoparticle-size-dependent onset of quantum tunneling of electrons across the sub-nanometer gaps in three different sizes (30, 50, and 80 nm) of highly uniform gold nanosphere dimers. For precision plasmonics, the gap distance is systematically controlled at the level of single C-C bonds via a series of alkanedithiol linkers (C2-C16). The corresponding single-particle scattering spectra reveal that for the larger dimers the onset of quantum effects occurs at larger gap distances: C6 for 80 nm, C5 for 50 nm, and C4 for 30 nm dimers. 2D non-local and quantum-corrected model (QCM) calculations reveal the physical origin for this experimental observation: the lower curvature of the larger particles leads to a higher tunneling current due to a larger effective conductivity volume in the gap. Our results have possible implications in scenarios where precise geometrical control over plasmonics properties is crucial such as in hybrid (molecule-metal) and/or quantum plasmonic devices.