Results in Physics (Mar 2020)
Cu@C core-shell nanoparticles with efficient optical absorption: DDA-based simulation and experimental validation
Abstract
The cost-effective copper (Cu) nanoparticles and core/shell derived architectures with novel physicochemical properties have received tremendous attention in recent years. Herein, the effect of nanoparticle geometry (including diameter and core/shell ratio) on optical scattering and absorption of Cu@C core/shell nanoparticles has been investigated through a combination of DDA-based simulation and experimental validation. Simulated results have shown that the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peaks of Cu@C core-shell nanoparticles present slightly blue-shift with the increase of core/shell ratio, the core/shell ratio play the dominant role in the shift of the LSPR peak. Moreover, scattering efficiencies factors are inclined to be increasing faster with particle size and core/shell ratio increase, corresponding to enhanced surface electric field intensity which originated from excessive electron concentration on the interface between Cu core and C shell. Finally, experimental optical absorption performance has been performed with the aim at confirmation of size-sensitive light scattering behaviors of Cu@C core-shell nanoparticles via metal organic chemical vapor deposition technology. Results have found that the light absorption coefficient of up to 99.4% could be achieved for nanoparticles with an average particle diameter of 10 nm, while 98.9% for 23 nm. Further decrease in diameter on the nanometer scale is demonstrated to promote optical absorption to a certain extent, which agrees well with simulated results. All these findings have demonstrated ultra-small Cu@C core-shell nanoparticle to be a promising candidate for efficient optical absorption, and are beneficial for design and development of Cu@C core-shell nanoparticles enabled optical-based devices.
