Preparation and characterization of surface plasmon resonance tunable gold and silver films

Precise control of thermal evaporation deposition parameters allows the reproducible production of silver and gold island films on glass substrates with tunable surface plasmon resonance wavelengths. Specific combinations of substrate temperature, deposition rate, and film thickness produce films exhibiting surface plasmon resonance wavelengths that can be adjusted from throughout the visible and into the near infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The effects of deposition parameters on surface plasmon resonance wavelengths are quantified using a so-called "design of experiment" analysis. The analysis produces reliable predictive models for producing Ag and Au films with predetermined surface plasmon resonance wavelengths. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.