What is it about?
This paper explores how (primarily plasmonic) nanoparticles absorb light, and how their size, shape, and material determine that process. We identify radiation damping as a key factor limiting absorption. By alloying different metals, we show that optical losses can be tuned to improve absorption far beyond what is possible with pure metals. These findings provide design strategies for creating nanoparticles that more effectively harvest light, and provide perspective for real-world applications in which nanoparticles are utilized to turn light energy into heat, electricity or chemical energy.
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Why is it important?
We show why nanoparticles of different shapes and sizes can absorb more if a suitable material is used. We present alloying metals as a new way to fine-tune nanoparticle light absorption and outperform pure metals. This is important because for many commonly used shapes and sizes of nanoparticles the absorption can be drastically improved. For example, among other things, we show how alloying certain metals increases absorption of gold nano-rods multifold. Utilizing the findings presented in the paper could lead to better solar cells, catalysts, and medical therapies.
Perspectives
This paper is the final chapter of a theoretical research project on manipulating the properties of nanoparticles by alloying. Our aim was to provide a clear connection between fundamental physics and real-world applications. We hope that researchers from both theoretical and applied backgrounds will find it interesting and, above all, useful.
Matej Bubaš
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Maximizing nanoparticle light absorption: Size, geometry, and a prospect for metal alloys, The Journal of Chemical Physics, August 2025, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0275249.
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Resources
Hot Carrier Distribution Engineering by Alloying: Picking Elements for the Desired Purposes
A related previous research focusing on tuning the generation of hot carriers in nanoparticles by alloying.
DFT-Based Approach Enables Deliberate Tuning of Alloy Nanostructure Plasmonic Properties
Related research focused on tuning the plasmonic properties of nanoparticles by alloying. Structure-property relationship is explored by DFT and electrodynamic simulations.
Open access preprint of this work
This is an open access preprint of this work. Majority of the content is the same, although the final version published in Journal of Chemical Physics is more polished, focused on novelty, and provides examples of experimental feasibility.
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