Structural and optical properties of gold nanosponges revealed via 3D nano-reconstruction and phase-field models

Abstract Nanosponges are subject of intensive research due to their unique morphology, which leads among other effects electrodynamic field localization generating a strongly nonlinear optical response at hot spots and thus enable variety applications. Accurate predictions physical properties require detailed knowledge the sponges’ chaotic nanometer-sized structure, posing metrological challenge. A major goal is obtain computer models with equivalent structural properties. Here, understand we present procedure for accurate 3D reconstruction using focused ion beam tomography. Additionally, introduce simulation method create nanoporous sponge adjustable geometric It shown that if certain morphological parameters similar computer-generated experimental sponges, response, including magnitudes spot locations, also similar. Finally, analyze anisotropy sponges an easy-to-use reproduce arbitrary anisotropies in sponges.