Direct imaging of surface plasmon resonances on single triangular silver nanoprisms at optical wavelength using low-loss EFTEM imaging

Abstract

Using low-loss energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) imaging, we map surface plasmon resonances (SPRs) at optical wavelengths on single triangular silver nanoprisms. We show that EFTEM imaging combining high spatial sampling and high energy resolution enables the detection and for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, mapping at the nanoscale of an extra multipolar SPR on these nanoparticles. As illustrated on a 276.5 nm long nanoprism, this eigenmode is found to be enhanced on the three edges where it exhibits a two-lobe distribution.