Au-(Y2O3)X(ZrO2)1-X Thin Films for High Temperature Gas Detection via Changes in Optical Absorption: Interfacial Influences on Metallic Nanoparticle Optical Properties

Increased dampening of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of Au nanoparticles embedded in yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) has been observed for Au-YSZ thin films at 500degC under increasing O₂ concentrations in N₂. It has been proposed that this broadening in the SPR band is due to an adsorbate induced dampening of the SPR band, which was initially observed using gas aggregation techniques on Ag nanoparticles, and can be observed at elevated temperatures by simply changing the gas environment of Au-YSZ films. We have developed a model to describe the changes we see in the SPR band broadening utilizing theoretical models developed by Persson (Surf. Sci., vol.281, p.153-162, 1993) and Pinchuk et al. (Surf. Sci., vol.557, p.269-280, 2004). Our model is in agreement with experimental results within a factor of three and shows promise in furthering the understanding of the optical properties possessed by noble metal nanoparticles embedded in a metal oxide matrix.