Fundamentals and applications of nanoparticle optics and surface-enhanced Raman scattering
Nanoparticle optics, the study of noble metal nanoparticle fabrication and their tunable optical properties, is undergoing a period of revolutionary progress. Only recently has the scientific community begun to understand the complexity and power of controlling the optical properties of nanoparticles. A perspective on fundamental advances and their resulting applications in this field is included in this thesis in order to frame the achievements reported herein. Specifically, the work described in this thesis addresses: (1) the systematic study of noble metal nanoparticle optical properties fabricated using various approaches, (2) the role that these tunable optical properties play in understanding and optimizing the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) phenomenon, and (3) an application of SERS as a small molecule biosensor
Thesis, Dissertation, English, 2003