Gold nanorods are ideal candidates for complementing fluorophores in labelling applications. The presence of the surface plasmon resonance generates large absorption and scattering cross sections,... Show moreGold nanorods are ideal candidates for complementing fluorophores in labelling applications. The presence of the surface plasmon resonance generates large absorption and scattering cross sections, thus making the detection of single nanoparticles possible under a light microscope. The plasmon of gold nanorods depends on the ratio between their width and length and covers the range between 540nm for spheres and even above 800nm for elongated particles, thus almost the entire visible and near-infrared spectrum. The surface plasmon presents great opportunities in (bio-)sensing, enhanced spectroscopies, photothermal therapy and for concentrating light below the diffraction limit. Show less
