Plasmonic properties of individual bismuth nanoparticles

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that individual bismuth nanoparticles support tunable localized surface plasmon resonances across a broad spectral range, with potential applications in industrial and large-scale plasmonics due to their stability, cost-effectiveness, and biocompatibility.

Contribution

The paper provides the first detailed investigation of the structural and optical properties of single bismuth nanoparticles, revealing their plasmonic behavior and spectral tunability.

Findings

Bismuth nanoparticles support localized surface plasmon resonances.

Resonance frequency can be tuned from near-infrared to ultraviolet.

Resonances are stable across the spectral bandwidth.

Abstract

Bismuth nanoparticles are being investigated due to their reported photothermal and photocatalytic properties. In this study, we synthesised spherical bismuth nanoparticles (50-600 nm) and investigated their structural and optical properties at the single particle level using analytical transmission electron microscopy. Our experimental results, supported by numerical simulations, demonstrate that bismuth nanoparticles support localised surface plasmon resonances, which can be tuned from the near-infrared to the ultraviolet spectral region by changing the nanoparticle size. Furthermore, plasmonic resonances demonstrate stability across the entire spectral bandwidth, enhancing the attractiveness of bismuth nanoparticles for applications over a wide spectral range. Bismuth's lower cost, biocompatibility, and oxidation resistance make it a suitable candidate for utilisation, particularly in industrial and large-scale plasmonic applications.