Resonant depolarized dynamic light scattering of silver nanoplatelets

Polarized and depolarized dynamic light scattering (DDLS) methodology was carried out on silver nanoplatelets showing strong plasmon-enhanced scattering. The hydrodynamic properties of the nanoparticles were determined by measuring the translation diffusion coefficient for "out resonant" condition and the rotational diffusion coefficient for "in resonant" condition. The results have been interpreted by applying an oblate ellipsoidal model, which allows a direct evaluation of nanoplatelets' size and shape in agreement with scanning electron microscopy. The characterised nanoplatelets reveal a transversal size of 20 nm and a longitudinal length in the range 65-92 nm. Our investigation shows that DDLS in resonant condition is a simple and powerful technique to determine the size and shape of plasmonic nanoparticles and it can be successfully applied to characterise the dynamics of metallic nanoplatelets.