Effect of a thin $a$-SiO$_{x}$:H film on plasmonic properties of gold nanoparticles

Data on the optical properties of a nanocomposite material constituted by gold nanoparticles covered with a thin film of amorphous hydrogenated silicon suboxide have been obtained for the first time. The thin film was deposited by gas-jet electron-beam plasma chemical-vapor deposition. As gold particles situated on the surface of quartz glass are covered with a thin $a$-SiO$_{x}$:H film, their plasmonic resonance peak is shifted to longer wavelengths. The calculations made in the study demonstrated a good agreement with the experiment.