Theoretical investigation of optical properties of embedded plasmonic nanoparticles

Plasmonic properties of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) that are embedded in a silica matrix were investigated using the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) method. Plasmonic NPs can be embedded in a semiconductor matrix using experimental methods such as ion-implantation technique. In this study, the optical properties of the spherical and rod-shaped Au, Ag, and Cu NPs were simulated. By calculating the influence of size and shape on the plasmonic properties of the single embedded NPs, the study has revealed that rod-shaped Ag NPs produce higher extinction, greater scattering quantum yield, and stronger field enhancement in comparison to the Au and Cu. Also, due to plasmonic coupling in the dimeric structures, the rod-shaped Ag NPs show stronger plasmonic properties when compared to the monomeric structures and other dimeric structures. This study provides a quantitative guide for the selection of embedded plasmonic NPs for their potential applications, such as metal fluorescence enhancement and energy harvesting.