Tuned linear optical properties of gold-polymer nanocomposites

The linear optical properties of gold-polystyrene nanocomposites, obtained by thermal decomposition of gold dodecyl-mercaptide into polystyrene matrix, can be significantly manipulated in the visible range, from absorption to emission at specific wavelengths as a function of nanocluster size, by the sensitive and reliable control of the annealing parameters (temperature and time). The performed optical investigation shows that these composites combine the peculiar optical properties of the metallic nanophase (strong surface plasmon absorption/strong and stable photoluminescence in the visible range) with the outstanding transparent polymer characteristic, for advanced applications in optical sensors, frequency converters, anti-counterfeiting tags, etc.