Diffraction in nanoparticle lattices increases sensitivity of localized surface plasmon resonance to refractive index changes

Abstract

Comparing predicted and measured spectra from isolated and ordered nanoparticles (NPs) indicates that ordering NPs into lattices can blueshift the localized surface plasmon resonant (LSPR) spectral feature and increase its wavelength sensitivity to local changes in refractive index. This occurs at lattice constants at or above the resonant wavelength. Numerical analysis indicates its results from effects of diffractive modes on LSPR features that are distinct from Fano resonances, which arise separately due to coupling between diffractive modes and localized plasmons. Refractive index sensitivity of the aggregate LSPR peak from NPs in a square lattice (314 nm RIU−1) was 5.8-fold higher than a comparable peak from random NPs (54 nm RIU−1). Measured sensitivities of Fano resonance features in two ordered samples were 127% and 312%, respectively, of the highest LSPR sensitivity from a random assembly of NPs.