Structure and optical properties of silica-supported Ag-Au nanoparticles.

Bimetallic Ag-Au nanoparticles are synthesized by sequential deposition of Au and Ag on amorphous silica by Radio Frequency (RF)-sputtering under mild conditions. Specimens are thoroughly characterized by a multi-technique approach, aimed at investigating the system properties as a function of the Ag/Au content, as well as the evolution induced by ex-situ annealing under inert (N2) or reducing (4% H2/N2) atmospheres. The obtained results demonstrate the possibility to obtain Ag-Au alloyed nanoparticles with controllable size, shape, structure, and dispersion under mild conditions, so that the optical properties can be finely tuned as a function of the synthesis and thermal treatment conditions.