Effect of edge smoothening on the extinction spectra of metal nanoparticles

Abstract

To calculate the extinction spectrum of a metal nanoparticle, it is common to use a regular shape which is close to the experimental one. We show that, to model a real metal particle, it is essential to remove sharp corners and tips and smoothen the bounding surface. An efficient and simple method to smoothen the tips and corners of the model shape of the particle is presented. The extinction calculated using smoothed particles predicts more accurately the extinction spectrum of as grown particles as well as the changes in the extinction spectrum during melting and reshaping of the particle.