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Geometry-dependent localization of surface plasmons on random gold nanoparticle assemblies

Mohammed Fayis Kalady1,2,*, Johannes Schultz1, Kristina Weinel1,3, Daniel Wolf1, and Axel Lubk1,4,†

  • *Contact author: m.f.kalady@ifw-dresden.de
  • †Contact author: a.lubk@ifw-dresden.de
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Phys. Rev. Research 7, 043053 – Published 15 October, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/44nk-6bp2

Abstract

Assemblies of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) support hybridized modes of localized surface plasmons (LSPs), which delocalize in geometrically well-ordered arrangements. Here, the hybridization behavior of LSPs in geometrically completely disordered two-dimensional arrangements of Au NPs fabricated by an e-beam synthesis method is studied. Employing electron energy loss spectroscopy in a scanning transmission electron microscope and numerical simulations, the disorder-driven spatial and spectral localization of the coupled LSP modes that depends on the NP thickness is revealed. Below a NP thickness of 0.4 nm, localization increases toward higher hybridized LSP mode energies. In comparison, above 10 nm thickness, a decrease of localization toward higher mode energies is observed. In the intermediate thickness regime, a transition of the energy dependence of the localization between the two limiting cases, exhibiting a mode energy with minimal localization, is observed. It is shown that this behavior is mainly driven by the energy and thickness dependence of the polarizability of the individual NPs.

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Phys. Rev. Research 7, 043053– Published 15 October, 2025
  • Received 7 February 2025
  • Accepted 23 July 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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