Anisotropic plasmon coupling in closely-spaced chains of Ag nanoparticles was visualized using the electron energy loss spectroscopy in a scanning transmission electron microscope. For dimers as the simplest chain, mapping the plasmon excitations wit
h nanometers spatial resolution and 0.27 eV energy resolution intuitively identified two coupling plasmons. The in-phase mode redshifted from the ultraviolet region as the inter-particle spacing was reduced, reaching the visible range at 2.7 eV. Calculations based on the discrete dipole approximation confirmed its optical activeness, where the longitudinal direction was constructed as the path for light transportation. Two coupling paths were then observed in an inflexed 4-particle chain.
The films with the discrete diamond-like-carbon nanoparticles were prepared by the deposition of the carbon nanoparticle beam. Their morphologies were imaged by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The nanoparticles w
ere found distributed on the silicon (100) substrate discretely. The semisphere shapes of the nanoparticles were demonstrated by the AFM line profile. EELS was measured and the sp3 ratio as high as 86% was found. The field-induced electron emission of the as-prepared cascade (nanoDLC/ Si) was tested and the current density of 1mA/cm2 was achieved at 10.2V/{mu}m.
