Simulations of optical properties of gallium alloy nanorods based on aspect ratio and shell thickness

Abstract

Liquid plasmonics in contemporary research heavily relies on gallium-based alloy nanoparticles (NPs). The focus of this study is to explore the plasmonic properties of rod-shaped gallium alloy nanoparticles. The primary aim is to examine how variations in Ag shell thickness and aspect ratio affect the optical properties based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The outcomes of this study will provide invaluable insights into improving the performance of plasmonic nanostructures. Notably, the focus is solely on analyzing the impact of size and material on the plasmon resonance of gallium-based alloy (GaAg), distinguishing it from the more widely known eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) alloy and Galinstan. To investigate the influence of varying aspect ratios and noble metal shell thickness under three different light polarization conditions, the boundary element method (BEM) was utilized. MATLAB-based simulations were employed to generate near-field and far-field plots of the extinction profiles of these nanorods. A large amount of tuning of the extinction spectra observed in the visible domain (380–780 nm) of the electromagnetic spectrum can be achieved with the size variation parameters. The gallium alloy (GaAg) examined in this study exhibits superior plasmonic properties and can be effectively utilized in soft electronic components, plasmonic energy storage devices, and as an alternative to the widely promoted GaIn alloy.