SURFACE-WAVES AS A TOOL FOR THE STUDY OF PHASE-TRANSITION OF NANOPARTICLES

Electromagnetic surface waves propagate along the interface between a thin metallic film and a dielectric medium and then are highly sensiti ve to changes in the properties of the involved media. In this paper, we will give a brief outline of the principles of the optical techniqu e based upon Attenuated Total Reflexion (ATR). Tin nanoparticles, mean sizes ranging down to 1 nm, are embedded in a dielectric medium depos ited onto the metallic film which guides the surface waves. We present some results showing that melting and freezing of such small particle s can be studied with ATR. The influence of the distance between the p articles and the interface will be discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e S.A.