LSPR Sensitivity of Ag-X NRs Core-Shell (X=Au, Al, TiO₂, ZnO, SiO₂): A Boundary Element Method Simulation Study

Abstract

Silver nanorods (Ag NRs) have garnered significant attention in sensor applications due to their exceptional sensitivity to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), facilitating the detection of minute changes in the surrounding environment. However, the inherent instability of silver in various environmental conditions poses a considerable challenge to the long-term reliability and reproducibility of Ag NR-based sensors. Core-shell structure Ag NRs by coating with Au, Al, TiO2, ZnO, and SiO2 layers reduce instability. These coatings act as protective barriers, shielding the underlying Ag NRs from environmental factors while preserving their LSPR properties. In this study, we employ the Boundary Element Method (BEM) simulation to investigate the sensitivity of coating Ag NRs with different materials (Au, Al, TiO2, ZnO, and SiO2) in enhancing both their stability and sensitivity for LSPR-based sensing applications.