Defect Chemistry and Plasmon Physics of Colloidal Metal Oxide Nanocrystals

Journal Article · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/jz500440e· OSTI ID:1211189

Lounis, SD; Runnerstrorm, EL; Llordes, A; Milliron, DJ

Plasmonic nanocrystals of highly doped metal oxides have seen rapid development in the past decade and represent a class of materials with unique optoelectronic properties. In this Perspective, we discuss doping mechanisms in metal oxides and the accompanying physics of free carrier scattering, both of which have implications in determining the properties of localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) in these nanocrystals. The balance between activation and compensation of dopants limits the free carrier concentration of the most common metal oxides, placing a ceiling on the LSPR frequency. Furthermore, because of ionized impurity scattering of the oscillating plasma by dopant ions, scattering must be treated in a fundamentally different way in semiconductor metal oxide materials when compared with conventional metals. Though these effects are well-understood in bulk metal oxides, further study is needed to understand their manifestation in nanocrystals and corresponding impact on plasmonic properties, and to develop materials that surpass current limitations in free carrier concentration.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
• OSTI ID: 1211189
• Journal Information: Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Vol. 5, Issue 9; ISSN 1948-7185
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English