Gold nanoclusters on GaAs(001) surface: atomic force microscopy and optical spectroscopy of plasmons

Gold nanoclusters of two different kinds are found to occur on annealing of thin Au films deposited on either oxidized or nitridized GaAs(001) surfaces. The morphology of Au/GaAs interfaces is characterized, and the gold nanoclusters are established to cause two resonant peaks in optical reflectance spectra at the energies of 1.6 eV and 2.15 eV. Using the data of reflection spectroscopy and theoretical analysis, we assign the latter peak to localized plasmons of Au nanoislands located on Au/GaAs surface. The former peak is attributed to plasmons of prolate Au nanoclusters buried in GaAs crystal just near its surface. As well, plasmonic anisotropy of Au nanoclusters formed on nitridized GaAs surfaces is detected using reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy. (paper)