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Thin films containing monometallic (Ag,Au) and bimetallic (Ag–Au) noble nanoparticles were dispersed in TiO2, using reactive magnetron sputtering and post-deposition thermal annealing. The influence of metal concentration and thermal annealing in the (micro)structural evolution of the films was studied, and its correlation with the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) behaviours was evaluated. The Ag/TiO2 films presented columnar to granular microstructures, developing Ag clusters at the surface for higher annealing temperatures. In some cases, the films presented dendrite-type fractal geometry, which led to an almost flat broadband optical response. The Au/TiO2 system revealed denser microstructures, with Au nanoparticles dispersed in the matrix, whose size increased with annealing temperature. This microstructure led to the appearance of LSPR bands, although some Au segregation to the surface hindered this effect for higher concentrations. The structural results of the Ag–Au/TiO2 system suggested the formation of bimetallic Ag–Au nanoparticles, which presence was supported by the appearance of a single narrow LSPR band. In addition, the Raman spectra of Rhodamine-6G demonstrated the viability of these systems for SERS applications, with some indication that the Ag/TiO2 system might be preferential, contrasting to the notorious behaviour of the bimetallic system in terms of LSPR response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we quantify the distance dependence for the extraction of energy from excited chromophores by a single layer graphene flake over a large separation range. To this end hybrid structures were prepared, consisting of a thin (2 nm) layer of a polymer matrix doped with a well chosen strongly fluorescent organic molecule, followed by an un-doped spacer layer of well-defined thicknesses made of the same polymer material and an underlying single layer of pristine, undoped graphene. The coupling strength is assessed through the variation of the fluorescence decay kinetics as a function of distance between the graphene and the excited chromophore molecules. Non-radiative energy transfer to the graphene was observed at distances of up to 60 nm; a range much greater than typical energy transfer distances observed in molecular systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]