Morphology and optical properties of a composite material based on gold nanoparticles and nonstoichiometric silicon oxide

In this work, the morphology, structural and optical properties of a composite material based on gold nanoparticles and a thin film of amorphous non-stoichiometric silicon oxide ($\alpha$-SiO$_x$, $x$ = 1.8) were studied for the first time. Based on the results obtained, it was experimentally shown that the $\alpha$-SiO$_{1.8}$ layer conformally covered the spherical nanoparticles. An analytical model based on the Mie theory well described the optical properties of the gold nanoparticles and the composite material in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum obtained from the experiment, as well as the change in the amplitude of the plasmon peak that occurs during the formation of the composite material.