Mapping plasmon excitations in gold nanostructures using electron energy loss spectroscopy
type: CreativeWork
description: In this work we present the plasmonic properties of simulated and fabricated Au nanostructures using an electron beam as a source of excitation. The motivation for the this work comes from the applications of these nanostructures and the need to understand the physics behind them. We introduce the concept of plasmonics in chapter 1 where we describe the historical significance and fundamentals underpinning the topic. We provide a description of the conditions under which plasmons can be created and highlight some key concepts which are used throughout this thesis. We then outline the experimental and modelling methodology used to probe the plasmonic properties of our nanostructures in chapter 2. Simulated results are generated using the Metallic NanoParticle Boundary Elemental Method software package, which is capable of calculating the plasmonics of nanostructures using an incident excitation. An overview of the calculations and some initial results regarding substrate effects and size-dependent plasmonics are presented. The experimental procedure is given in this chapter where we describe the fabrication and examination of our Au nanosturctures. In this work we use electron beam lithography as a method of nanofabrication, a description of which is given. We also show some of the optimisation results whilst highlighting some difficulties with this method. Scanning transmission electron microscopy with electron energy loss spectroscopy is the the experimental technique used throughout this thesis and we provide an overview of this method in Chapter 2, detailing some of the optimisation process and data analysis used in this thesis. In Chapter 3 we study the plasmonics of near field transducers, motivated by their use in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) as a nanoscale heat source. This work begins by examining and comparing the plasmonic properties of what we call ’nanoraindrop‘ and ’nanolollipop‘ geometries, describing the advantages and disadvantages of each…
abstract: In this work we present the plasmonic properties of simulated and fabricated Au nanostructures using an electron beam as a source of excitation. The motivation for the this work comes from the applications of these nanostructures and the need to understand the physics behind them. We introduce the concept of plasmonics in chapter 1 where we describe the historical significance and fundamentals underpinning the topic. We provide a description of the conditions under which plasmons can be created and highlight some key concepts which are used throughout this thesis. We then outline the experimental and modelling methodology used to probe the plasmonic properties of our nanostructures in chapter 2. Simulated results are generated using the Metallic NanoParticle Boundary Elemental Method software package, which is capable of calculating the plasmonics of nanostructures using an incident excitation. An overview of the calculations and some initial results regarding substrate effects and size-dependent plasmonics are presented. The experimental procedure is given in this chapter where we describe the fabrication and examination of our Au nanosturctures. In this work we use electron beam lithography as a method of nanofabrication, a description of which is given. We also show some of the optimisation results whilst highlighting some difficulties with this method. Scanning transmission electron microscopy with electron energy loss spectroscopy is the the experimental technique used throughout this thesis and we provide an overview of this method in Chapter 2, detailing some of the optimisation process and data analysis used in this thesis. In Chapter 3 we study the plasmonics of near field transducers, motivated by their use in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) as a nanoscale heat source. This work begins by examining and comparing the plasmonic properties of what we call ’nanoraindrop‘ and ’nanolollipop‘ geometries, describing the advantages and disadvantages of each…
author: Wright, Liam
language: eng
keywords: plasmonics, STEM EELS, nanofabrication, computational modeling, HAMR, gold nanomaterials
date published: 2021-7
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:55:45Z
provider: Queen's University Belfast
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Queen's University Belfast