Ab initio energy loss spectra of Si and Ge nanowires

Abstract

By means of parameter-free quantum-mechanical dielectric response calculations of thin Si and Ge nanowires we explain the presence of the low energy peaks observed in EELS-TEM experiments and predict an important nanowire diameter dependence of the volume plasmon peak due to quantum-confinement effects, which is consistent with the blue shift observed experimentally in thicker wires.