Microscopic fundamentals of electromagnetic functional metal/dielectric nanocomposite multilayer films

To understand the physical mechanism of electromagnetic response and potent ial energy conversion mode in nanostructured materials, especially in metal /dielectric nanocomposite multilayers, a theoretical framework has been sug gested. It involves the prerequisite of response, transmission effect, mode of response, plasma model, efficiency of response mode, and size effect of constitutive characteristics. Experimental results have proved that the si ze effect exists for electrical conductivity, optical constants, permittivi ty, permeability and carrier density in ultrathin Al, Ti and Fe films as th e thickness of the film decreases to a nanometer size range. Principles for designing nanostructures are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.