Optical properties of nanoporous gold

Nanoporous gold with porosity much smaller as the light wavelength represent an optical metamaterial. It has distinct optical response which can be attributed to plasmonic resonances and conduction in network structure. We develop effective medium models for nanoporous gold taking into account structural and material properties.

Large surface to volume ratio of nanoporous gold can be also used to change its optical properties via surface modifications. Additionally absorption in nanoporous gold can lead to excitation of hot electrons and hot holes that can be utilized for photoemission and chemical reactions at the surface.