Abstract
The effect of the properties of photographic materials on the preparation of gold clusters in a gelatin layer using a photographic film was examined. The cluster are formed by reducing a gold(I)–thiocyanate complex solution on latent image specks in emulsion grains. Gold clusters are marked as a non-linear optical material, and it was necessary for this purpose to condense the gold clusters in the layer. This was attempted by two methods. The first was to increase the emulsion grains in the layer, and the second was to increase the number of latent image specks on a grain. An ultrafine grain emulsion was applied for the former, while a high-intensity exposure and chemically sensitized emulsions were used to induce the dispersion of latent image specks for the latter. The characteristics of the clusters prepared from those emulsions were compared by absorption spectrum and size distribution. Both methods increased the plasmon absorption due to the gold clusters. The size of the clusters was similar, while absorbance increased with the sulphur-sensitization level. These results suggested that both were effective in condensing the gold clusters in the layer.