Theoretical and Experimental Spectroscopic studies of Conducting Metal Oxide Thin Films

Abstract

In order to expand on the growing field on Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy (SPRS) the application of SPRS to Conducting Metal Oxides (CMO) was studied. Through experimental and theoretical studies it was concluded that CMO’s are capable of sustaining Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPP) like those in noble metals. Specifically, we have used indium tin oxide (ITO) as a test case to demonstrate the interplay of experiment and theory. Theoretical studies provided an excellent basis for comparison to experimental data. Furthermore, Near Edge X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy (NEXAFS) was applied in order to examine the ITO as a substrate for self assembled monolayers (SAMs). It was found that hexadecanethiol and phosphonic acid form ordered monolayers on ITO.