Examining the Gilded Cage: Synthesis, Optical Properties and Plasmonic Applications of Gold Nanocages

Abstract

The undersigned hereby recommends to the Department of Chemistry acceptance of the thesis Examining the gilded cage: synthesis, optical properties and plasmonic applications of gold nanocages Submitted by Alyssa Staff in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Abstract The methods of synthesis and characterization of the optical properties of gold nanocages produced by templated galvanic exchange of silver nanocubes is reported. The effect of surface modifications and substrate interactions were observed using ultra-violet, visible and near-infrared spectrophotometry and fluorescence spectroscopy. The refractive index sensitivity of the gold nanocage structures was altered using various combinations of conditions including size, shape, surface functionalization, substrate support, and capping with dielectric shells. Atomic force, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopic methods were used for imaging and characterization of the gold nanocages. The potential applications of gold nanocages with various environmental and surface conditions were investigated based on the ability to tune the localized surface plasmon resonance modes to a series of desired wavelengths and bandwidths.Collaboration with the Albert group (Department of Electronics) was carried out with the successful assembly, as well as limit of detection and sensitivity improvements, of a protein biosensor supported on a titled fibre Bragg grating.Investigations into the fluorescence quenching effects of silica-capped gold nanocages was carried out using a tailored selection of fluorescent dyes to enable potential enhancement and/or quenching using the same nanostructure.The optical properties of gold nanocages allow for many potential uses of the same nanostructure in a wide variety of applications, including biomedical and biosensing applications. iv