Depolarized Light Scattering From Single Silver Nanoparticles

Depolarized scattering spectra from individual silver nanoparticles of different shapes and sizes were measured as a function of the incident polarization angle. The spectra were correlated to the nanoparticles’ shape, size, and orientation as determined by scanning electron microscopy. The intensity of depolarized scattered light from nonspherical silver nanoparticles strongly depends upon particle shape and orientation relative to the polarization vector. The intensity of depolarized scattered light also increases with the aspect ratio of the nanoparticles. The depolarized light scattering originated from the interference of the plasmon modes corresponding to the electron oscillations along different axes of the NPs.