Localized Surface Plasmon Polariton Resonance Research Articles

Highly tunable and ultrasensitive hybrid plasmonic platform for multi-spectral sensing: Non-invasive diabetes surveillance and global warming directives

The development of tunable and extremely sensitive devices, as well as the emergence of metamaterials, has tremendously aided the evolution of plasmonic sensing technologies. However, the natural property of metamaterials severely restricts the scalability and application potential of mono-functional sensor systems. To address this shortcoming, we have investigated an ultranarrow five-band plasmonic sensor with structural tunability and high sensing behaviors in compatibility with multi-purpose application scenarios, using the finite-difference time-domain approach rigorously. Meanwhile, we theoretically formulated a hybridization model for the mutual induction of Fabry–Pérot resonances and localized surface plasmon polariton resonance, providing a theoretical basis for the utilization and conception of the highly-sensitive tunable plasmonic sensor. Most notably, we discovered and interpreted far-field phase extinction inducing separation of polarization resonance peaks in physical mechanisms. The tunability of its mutual inductance effect at the intersection distances from two-intersecting silver nanogroove was adequately exploited to further validate and effectively attain five ultra-narrow absorptivities of 96.70%, 93.93%, 99.73%, 100.00%, and 89.72% by top-level optimization. In addition, the redundant proximity between nearby peaks is compensated, extending the operating band and enhancing the practicability in multi-purpose scenarios. As a reliable source for future optical sensing, it performs well in the visible to near-infrared region, enabling detection response to non-invasive diabetes mellitus, global climate warming, and unrestricted temperature and pressure measurement. Meanwhile, minimum FWHM = 4.806 nm and maximum FOM = 115.13 RIU−1 are obtained at 293.15 K, with an associated highest sensitivity of 557.93 nm/RIU. Moreover, the fabrication technologies development of electron beam lithography and focused ion beam etching technologies enables large-scale mass production at low cost and long-term stability.

Near-Perfect Spectral Transmission Properties for Two Cascaded Plasmonic Ultrathin Nanograting Structures

A high-performance plasmonic transmission structure consisting of two longitudinally cascaded ultrathin metallic nanogratings with a half period lateral dislocated and separated by two heterogeneous dielectric layers is proposed and theoretically studied. Three near-unity spectral transmission peaks are observed for the cascaded plasmonic nanograting structure due to the evanescent field coupling of surface plasmon polariton waves supported by the two neighboring plasmonic nanogratings. The physical mechanism responsible for the near-perfect peak transmissions is discussed based on the corresponding spatial distributions of electromagnetic fields and is found to be two possible ways: by the excitation of hybrid anti-symmetric surface plasmon polariton leaky mode on the incident and transmission surfaces of the cascaded plasmonic nanograting structure or by the formation of localized surface plasmon polariton resonance modes within horizontally butt-jointed metal/insulator/metal coupled waveguides between the two cascaded plasmonic nanogratings. It is the two heterogeneous dielectric layers inserted between the two cascaded plasmonic nanogratings that is indispensable for the formation of the hybrid anti-symmetric surface plasmon polariton leaky mode, resulting in the near-unity transmission peak with an ultra-narrow bandwidth of 20 nm. The high-tunability of spectral transmission behaviors with varying structural parameters and dielectric layer are explored, which promise numerous potential applications in nano-optics devices, such as plasmonic filters, sensors, and nanoscale distance ruler.

Analytical results regarding electrostatic resonances of surface phonon/plasmon polaritons: separation of variables with a twist.

The boundary integral equation (BIE) method ascertains explicit relations between localized surface phonon and plasmon polariton resonances and the eigenvalues of its associated electrostatic operator. We show that group-theoretical analysis of the Laplace equation can be used to calculate the full set of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the electrostatic operator for shapes and shells described by separable coordinate systems. These results not only unify and generalize many existing studies, but also offer us the opportunity to expand the study of phenomena such as cloaking by anomalous localized resonance. Hence, we calculate the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of elliptic and circular cylinders. We illustrate the benefits of using the BIE method to interpret recent experiments involving localized surface phonon polariton resonances and the size scaling of plasmon resonances in graphene nanodiscs. Finally, symmetry-based operator analysis can be extended from the electrostatic to the full-wave regime. Thus, bound states of light in the continuum can be studied for shapes beyond spherical configurations.

Localized surface plasmon polariton resonance in holographically structured Al-doped ZnO

In this paper, we studied the localized surface plasmon polariton (SPP) resonance in hole arrays in transparent conducting aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO). CMOS-compatible fabrication process was demonstrated for the AZO devices. The localized SPP resonance was observed and confirmed by electromagnetic simulations. Using a standing wave model, the observed SPP was dominated by the standing-wave resonance along (1,1) direction in square lattices. This research lays the groundwork for a fabrication technique that can contribute to the core technology of future integrated photonics through its extension into tunable conductive materials.

Ag doped silicon nitride nanocomposites for embedded plasmonics

The localized surface plasmon-polariton resonance (LSPR) of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) is widely exploited for enhanced optical spectroscopies of molecules, nonlinear optics, photothermal therapy, photovoltaics, or more recently in plasmoelectronics and photocatalysis. The LSPR frequency depends not only of the noble metal NP material, shape, and size but also of its environment, i.e., of the embedding matrix. In this paper, Ag-NPs have been fabricated by low energy ion beam synthesis in silicon nitride (SiNx) matrices. By coupling the high refractive index of SiNx to the relevant choice of dielectric thickness in a SiNx/Si bilayer for an optimum antireflective effect, a very sharp plasmonic optical interference is obtained in mid-range of the visible spectrum (2.6 eV). The diffusion barrier property of the host SiNx matrix allows for the introduction of a high amount of Ag and the formation of a high density of Ag-NPs that nucleate during the implantation process. Under specific implantation conditions, in-plane self-organization effects are obtained in this matrix that could be the result of a metastable coarsening regime.

Strong coupling between localized and propagating plasmon polaritons.

We investigate plasmon-plasmon (PP) coupling in the strongly interacting regimes by using a tunable plasmonic platform consisting of triangular Ag nanoprisms placed nanometers away from Ag thin films. The nanoprisms are colloidally synthesized using a seed-mediated growth method and having size-tunable localized surface plasmon polariton (SPP) resonances immobilized on Si(3)N(4) films. The PP coupling between the localized SPPs of metal nanoprisms and the propagating SPPs of the metal film is controlled by the nanoprism concentration and the plasmon damping in the metal film. Results reveal that Rabi splitting energy determining the strength of the coupling can reach up to several hundreds meV, thus demonstrating the ultrastrong coupling occurring between localized and propagating SPPs. The metal nanoparticle-metal thin film hybrid system over the square-centimeter areas presented here provides a unique configuration to study PP coupling all the way from the weak to ultrastrong coupling regimes in a broad range of wavelengths.

Manipulation of spectral amplitude and phase with plasmonic nano-structures for information storage

Optical storage devices, such as compact disk (CD) and digital versatile disc (DVD), provide us a platform for cheap and compact information storage media. Nowadays, information we obtain every day keeps increasing, and therefore how to increase the storage capacity becomes an important issue. In this paper, we reported a method for the increase of the capacity of optical storage devices using metallic nano-structures. Metallic nano-structures exhibit strong variations in their reflectance and/or transmittance spectra accompanied with dramatic optical phase modulation due to localized surface plasmon polariton resonances. Two samples were fabricated for the demonstration of storage capacity enhancement through amplitude modulation and phase modulation, respectively. This work is promising for high-density optical storage.

Influence of surface plasmon resonance wavelength on SERS activity of naturally grown silver nanoparticle ensemble

We present experimental results to quantify and optimize the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity of naturally grown silver nanoparticles. Ag nanoparticle ensembles with mean equivalent radii ranging from 10.6 to 20.3 nm were prepared under ultrahigh vacuum conditions by Volmer–Weber growth on quartz plates. A tuning of the localized surface plasmon polariton resonance wavelength from 453 to 548 nm was performed by varying the morphology of the silver nanoparticles. The dependence of the SERS activity on the plasmon resonance wavelength was investigated with a Raman set‐up containing a microsystem light source with an emission line at 488 nm. Shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy was applied to remove the fluorescence‐based background from the SERS spectra of pyrene in water using two slightly different emission wavelengths (487.61 and 487.91 nm) of the microsystem light source. We demonstrate that the Raman activities for all SERS substrates are available in the nanomolar range in a water sample. However, the Raman activity crucially depends on the plasmon resonance wavelength of the nanoparticle ensembles. Although for an on‐resonance ensemble the limit of detection for pyrene in water is very low and was estimated to be 2 nmol/L, it increases rapidly to several tens of nanomol for slightly off‐resonance ensembles. Hence, the highest SERS activity was obtained with a nanoparticle ensemble exhibiting a plasmon resonance wavelength at 491 nm, which almost coincides with the excitation wavelengths. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Second harmonic generation in three-dimensional structures based on homogeneous centrosymmetric metallic spheres

The theory of second harmonic generation (SHG) in three-dimensional structures consisting of arbitrary distributions of metallic spheres made of centrosymmetric materials is developed by means of multiple scattering of electromagnetic multipole fields. The electromagnetic field at both the fundamental frequency and second harmonic, as well as the scattering cross section, are calculated in a series of particular cases such as a single metallic sphere, two metallic spheres, chains of metallic spheres, and other distributions of the metallic spheres. It is shown that the linear and nonlinear optical response of all ensembles of metallic spheres is strongly influenced by the excitation of localized surface plasmon-polariton resonances. The physical origin for such a phenomenon has also been analyzed.

Design of nanostructured plasmonic back contacts for thin-film silicon solar cells

We report on a plasmonic light-trapping concept based on localized surface plasmon polariton induced light scattering at nanostructured Ag back contacts of thin-film silicon solar cells. The electromagnetic interaction between incident light and localized surface plasmon polariton resonances in nanostructured Ag back contacts was simulated with a three-dimensional numerical solver of Maxwell's equations. Geometrical parameters as well as the embedding material of single and periodic nanostructures on Ag layers were varied. The design of the nanostructures was analyzed regarding their ability to scatter incident light at low optical losses into large angles in the silicon absorber layers of the thin-film silicon solar cells.

Coupling of Plasmon Resonances in Tunable Layered Arrays of Gold Nanoparticles

Using bottom-up and self-assembly processes, large scale layered arrays of strongly coupled gold nanoparticles with controllable dimensions were fabricated. By carefully adjusting the distance between adjacent gold nanoparticle arrays, it is possible to control the coupling of the localized surface plasmon polariton resonance as sustained by individual gold nanoparticles. A greater interaction is observed at smaller separations, leading to a well pronounced shift in the spectral position of resonances that can be adjusted with high precision. Simulations showed good agreement with experimental observations in an in-depth investigation of such structures, suggesting minimal separations of only one nanometer are achieved.

Tuning nanopatterns on fused silica substrates: a theoretical and experimental approach

In this study we develop a novel approach to tune nanopatterns on fused silica substrates exploiting the polarization dependence of the strongly localized near field of highly ordered triangular nanoparticle arrays. For this purpose such arrays were prepared by nanosphere lithography on fused silica substrates and subsequently irradiated with single 35 fs long laser pulses. The irradiation leads to the excitation of localized surface plasmon polariton resonances, followed by ablation of the nanoparticles and partially of the substrate. By this means, nanostructures were generated on the substrate surface, reflecting the local fields in the vicinity of the triangular nanoparticles. Depending on the applied fluence, small holes as well as extended nanostructures with dimensions well below the diffraction limit have been created. Furthermore, by rotating the linear polarization of the laser light by 90° with respect to the orientation of triangular nanoparticles, different plasmon modes have been excited, which in turn, alter the local field distribution. As a result, either nanochannels or bone like shaped nanogrooves in a chequered structure were generated on the fused silica substrates. Finite-difference time-domain simulations demonstrate, that the results can, in fact, be explained by the enhanced near field distribution, which is dominated by the excitation of localized surface plasmon polariton resonances in the triangular nanoparticles. It is shown, that the fluence and the polarization of the laser light are the key parameters in nanogroove and nanochannel formation.

Damping of the localized surface plasmon polariton resonance of gold nanoparticles

We report on a strong damping of the localized surface plasmon polariton resonance of gold nanoparticles. The ultra-fast dephasing time of localized surface plasmon polariton resonances in gold nanoparticles was systematically studied as a function of the particle size at a fixed photon energy of hν=1.85 eV. Dephasing times ranging from \(T_{2}^{\mathrm{exp}}\) = 5.5 fs to 15.0 fs were extracted and an influence of the reduced dimensions was detected. We have identified two dominant damping mechanisms: the well-known surface scattering and, for the first time, band structure changes. We have quantified the influence of these band structure changes on the optical properties by determining the essential damping parameter A to be Aexp=0.32 nm/fs.

Gold, Copper, Silver and Aluminum Nanoantennas to Enhance Spontaneous Emission

We compute the decay rates of emitters coupled to spheroidal nanoantennas made of gold, copper, silver, and aluminum. The spectral position of the localized surface plasmon-polariton resonance, the enhancement factors and the quantum efficiency are investigated as a function of the aspect ratio, background index and the metal composing the nanoantenna. While copper yields results similar to gold, silver and aluminum exhibit different performances. Our results show that with a careful choice of the parameters these nanoantennas can enhance emitters ranging from the UV to the near-IR spectrum.

Shape tailoring of hexagonally ordered triangular gold nanoparticles with nanosecond-pulsed laser light

In this contribution recent results on selective and precise tailoring of triangular gold nanoparticles (NPs) using ns-pulsed laser light are presented. The NPs were prepared by nanosphere lithography and subsequently tailored with ns-pulsed laser light using different fluences and wavelengths. The method is based on the size and shape dependent localized surface plasmon polariton resonance (SPR) of the NPs. We will demonstrate that the gap size between triangular NPs can be tuned from approximately 102 ± 14 nm to 122 ± 11 nm, due to a shape change of the NP from triangular to oblate. These morphological changes are accompanied by a significant shift of the surface plasmon resonance from λ SPR = 730 nm to λ SPR = 680 nm. Most importantly if the laser wavelength is chosen such that the dipolar SPR is excited, the hexagonal order of the NPs remains intact after irradiation, in contrast to excitation via the quadrupole SPR or within the interband transition. A tuneable gap size and the conservation of the hexagonal order of the NP array is the precondition for applications, where the NPs should serve as anchor points, e.g. for functional molecular nanowires, which can be used to utilize molecular devices.

Tailor-made metal nanoparticles as SERS substrates

In this contribution we summarize recent experiments with the objective to generate optimized substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). For this purpose, the well-established laser-assisted growth technique has been applied, which relies on a precise control of the growth kinetics of supported metal nanoparticles. With this method reproducible and stable SERS substrates with tailor-made optical properties possing best field enhancements were produced for specific excitation wavelengths and detection ranges. Optimization of the SERS substrates has been achieved by stabilizing the localized surface plasmon polariton resonance (SPR) of gold nanoparticles in the vicinity of the laser wavelength of λ=647 nm and λ=785 nm used for SERS excitation. After nanoparticle preparation, SERS spectra of pyrene were obtained using naturally grown nanoparticles and nanoparticles prepared by laser-assisted growth. The most important result is that the optimized substrates prepared by laser-assisted growth exhibit a significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio as compared to naturally grown nanoparticles. They are even better than substrates whose SPR has been tuned to the excitation wavelength by an elevated temperature during preparation. Another important observation is that all SERS spectra exhibit excellent reproducibility and the substrates do not show degradation during the measurements. Finally, the SERS enhancement factors due to the optimized substrates have been estimated and are on the order of 105 to 106.

Tailoring the excitation of localized surface plasmon-polariton resonances by focusing radially-polarized beams

We study the interaction of focused radially-polarized light with metal nanospheres. By expanding the electromagnetic field in terms of multipoles, we gain insight on the excitation of localized surface plasmon-polariton resonances in the nanoparticle. We show that focused radially-polarized beams offer more opportunities than a focused plane wave or a Gaussian beam for tuning the near- and far-field system response. These results find applications in nano-optics, optical tweezers, and optical data storage.

Direct Near-Field Optical Imaging of Higher Order Plasmonic Resonances

We map in real space and by purely optical means near-field optical information of localized surface plasmon polariton (LSPP) resonances excited in nanoscopic particles. We demonstrate that careful polarization control enables apertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy (aSNOM) to image dipolar and quadrupolar LSPPs of the bare sample with high fidelity in both amplitude and phase. This establishes a routine method for in situ optical microscopy of plasmonic and other resonant structures under ambient conditions.

Magneto-Optical Kerr Effects of Yttrium-Iron Garnet Thin Films Incorporating Gold Nanoparticles

We report an experimental study on magneto-optical (MO) Kerr effects of yttrium-iron garnet (YIG) thin films incorporating Au nanoparticles. The polar MO Kerr spectra in the wavelength between 400 and 800 nm show that, by incorporating the Au nanoparticles, Kerr rotation angles become negative values in the region, where the localized surface plasmon polariton (SPP) resonance of the Au nanoparticles is located. The anomalous Kerr rotation indicates a possible coupling between the MO Kerr effect of YIG and the SPP. A mechanism for the coupling is discussed.