Microscopic fundamentals of electromagnetic functional metal/dielectric nanocomposite multilayer films

To understand the physical mechanism of electromagnetic response and potential energy conversion mode in nanostructured materials, especially in metal/dielectric nanocomposite multilayers, a theoretical framework has been suggested. It involves the prerequisite of response, transmission effect, mode of response, plasma model, efficiency of response mode, and size effect of constitutive characteristics. Experimental results have proved that the size effect exists for electrical conductivity, optical constants, permittivity, permeability and carrier density in ultrathin Al, Ti and Fe films as the thickness of the film decreases to a nanometer size range. Principles for designing nanostructures are discussed.