A computational study of the double-bands plasmonic light scattering of Al ₂ O ₃ coated Al nanoshells in the deep-ultraviolet range

The tunable scattering cross section of oxide layer-coated Al nanoshell has been computationally studied as a function of wavelength. The calculation results show that the two resonance light scattering (RLS) peaks of Al nanoshell have higher frequency and greater intensity than that of Au and Ag nanoshell. Both of the two scattering peaks, which are corresponding to anti-symmetric and symmetric plasmon coupling, take place in the ultraviolet range. And the anti-symmetric scattering peak could be tuned down to the deep-ultraviolet wavelength below 200 nm. By increasing radius and dielectric constant of the inner core, or decreasing the thickness of the oxide layer, the anti-symmetric scattering peak with short wavelength could be enhanced and has greater intensity than that of symmetric scattering peak with long wavelength, which is different from that of Au and Ag nanoshells. Obtaining intense RLS peaks from Al nanoshell at deep-ultraviolet region presents a potential for the application of ultra-sensitive biosensing, ultraviolet material characterization, and ultraviolet nanoscale imaging.