Optical and Structural Properties of Ultra-thin Gold Films

Realizing laterally continuous ultra-thin gold fi lms on transparent substrates is a challenge of signifi cant technological importance. In the present work,formation of ultra-thin gold fi lms on fused silica is studied, demonstrating how suppression of island formation and reduction of plasmonic absorption can be achieved by treating substrates with (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane prior to…