The effect of the size, shape, and structure of metal nanoparticles on the dependence of their optical properties on the refractive index of a disperse medium

The effect of the size, shape, and structure of gold and silver nanoparticles on the dependence of their extinction and integral scattering spectra on the dielectric environment has been investigated. Calculations were performed using the Mie theory for spheres and nanoshells and the T-matrix method for chaotically oriented bispheres, spheroids, and s cylinders with hemispherical ends. The sensitivity of plasmon resonances to variations in the refractive index of the environment in the range 1.3–1.7 for particles of different equivolume size, as well as to variations in the thickness of the metal layer of nanoshells, was studied. For nanoparticles with an equivolume diameter of 15 nm, the maximal shifts of plasmon resonances due to variation in the refractive index of the environment are observed for bispheres and the shifts decrease in the series nanoshells, s cylinders or spheroids, and spheres. For particles 60 nm in diameter, the largest shifts of plasmon resonances occur for nanoshells and the shifts decrease in the series bispheres, s cylinders or spheroids, and spheres. All other conditions being the same, silver nanoparticles are more sensitive to the resonance tuning due to a change in the dielectric environment.