Ultrafast acoustic vibrations of Au–Ag nanoparticles with varying elongated structures

Abstract

Acoustic vibrations of Au and Ag elongated nano-objects with original morphologies, from Ag–Ag homodimers to Au@Ag–Ag heterodimers and Au@Ag eccentric core–shell spheroids, have been experimentally investigated by ultrafast time-resolved optical spectroscopy. Their frequencies, obtained by the analysis of time-dependent transient absorption changes, are compared with the results obtained from finite element modeling (FEM) numerical computations, which allow assignment of the detected oscillating signals to fundamental radial and extensional modes. FEM was further used to analyze the effects of morphology and composition on the vibrational dynamics. FEM computations indicate that (1) the central distance between particles forming the nanodimers has profound effects on the extensional mode frequencies and a negligible influence on the radial mode ones, in analogy with the case of monometallic nanorods, (2) coating Au with Ag also has a strong mass-loading-like effect on the dimer and core–shell stretching mode frequency, while (3) its influence on the radial breathing mode is smaller and analogous to the non-monotonic frequency dependence on the Au fraction previously observed in isotropic bimetallic spheres. These findings are significant for developing a predictive understanding of nanostructure mechanical properties and for designing new mechanical nanoresonators.