Dependences of optical properties of spherical two-layered nanoparticles on parameters of gold core and material shell

Modeling of nonlinear dependences of optical properties of spherical two-layered gold core and some material shell nanoparticles (NPs) placed in water on parameters of core and shell was carried out on the basis of the extended Mie theory. Efficiency cross-sections of absorption, scattering and extinction of radiation with wavelength 532nm by core–shell NPs in the ranges of core radii r00=5–40nm and of relative NP radii r1/r00=1–8 were calculated (r1—radius of two-layered nanoparticle). Shell materials were used with optical indexes in the ranges of refraction n1=0.2–1.5 and absorption k1=0–3.5 for the presentation of optical properties of wide classes of shell materials (including dielectrics, metals, polymers, vapor shell around gold core). Results show nonlinear dependences of optical properties of two-layered NPs on optical indexes of shell material, core r00 and relative NP r1/r00 radii. Regions with sharp decrease and increase of absorption, scattering and extinction efficiency cross-sections with changing of core and shell parameters were investigated. These dependences should be taken into account for applications of two-layered NPs in laser nanomedicine and optical diagnostics of tissues. The results can be used for experimental investigation of shell formation on NP core and optical determination of geometrical parameters of core and shell of two-layered NPs. •Absorption, scattering and extinction of two-layered nanoparticles are studied.•Shell materials change in wide regions of materials (metals, dielectrics, vapor).•Effect of sharp decrease and increase of optical characteristics is established.•Explanation of sharp decreasing and increasing optical characteristics is presented.