Guiqiang Liu

Automatically acquired broadband plasmonic-metamaterial black absorber during the metallic film-formation.

Broadband electromagnetic wave absorbers are highly desirable in numerous applications such as solar-energy harvesting, thermo-photovoltaics, and photon detection. The aim to efficiently achieve ultrathin broadband absorbers with high-yield and low-cost fabrication process has long been pursued. Here, we theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate a unique broadband plasmonic-metamaterial absorber by utilizing a sub-10 nm meta-surface film structure to replace the precisely designed metamaterial crystal in the common metal-dielectric-metal absorbers. The unique ultrathin meta-surface can be automatically obtained during the metal film formation process. Spectral bandwidth with absorbance above 80% is up to 396 nm, where the full absorption width at half-maximum is about 92%. The average value of absorbance across the whole spectral range of 370-880 nm reaches 83%. These super absorption properties can be attributed to the particle plasmon resonances and plasmon near-field coupling by the automatically formed metallic nanoparticles as well as the plasmon polaritons of the metal film with the induced plasmonic magnetic resonances occurring between the top meta-surface and the bottom metal mirror. This method is quite simple, cost-effective for large-area fabrication, and compatible with current industrial methods for microelectro-mechanical systems, which makes it an outstanding candidate for advanced high-efficiency absorber materials.

λ3/20000 plasmonic nanocavities with multispectral ultra-narrowband absorption for high-quality sensing

We present a method to theoretically achieve multispectral ultra-narrowband near-unity absorption in metal structure with deep-subwavelength plasmonic nanocavities (i.e., volumes < λ3/20 000) for high-quality sensing. The concept is based on the combined excitation of multiple plasmon resonances and high optical field confinement by an array of hexagonal non-close-packed cross-shape nanocavities on an opaque metal film. A multispectral plasmonic nano-sensor with high refractive index sensitivity (538 nm/RIU) and figure of merit (58) in the optical region is obtained with the minimum bandwidth of 8 nm, which offers new perspectives for achieving ultra-compact efficient biosensors.

Robust multispectral transparency in continuous metal film structures via multiple near-field plasmon coupling by a finite-difference time-domain method

We propose a robust multispectral transparent plasmonic structure and calculate its transparency response by using the three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The proposed structure is composed of a continuous ultrathin metal film sandwiched by double two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal non-close-packed metal-dielectric multilayer core-shell nanoparticle arrays. The top and bottom plasmonic arrays in such a structure, respectively, act as the light input and output couplers to carry out the efficient trapping and release of light. Near-perfect multispectral optical transparency in the visible and near-infrared regions is achieved theoretically. The calculated electric field distribution patterns show that the near-perfect multispectral optical transparency mainly originates from the excitation and hybridization of shell and core plasmon modes, strong near-field coupling of dipole plasmon modes between adjacent nanoparticles as well as the excitation of surface plasmon waves of the metal film. The robust transparency bands can be efficiently tuned in a large range by varying the structural parameters and the surrounding dielectric environment. The proposed structure also shows additional merits such as a deep sub-wavelength size and fully retained electrical and mechanical properties of the natural metal. These features might provide promising applications in highly integrated optoelectronic devices including plasmonic filters, nanoscale multiplexers, and non-linear optics.

Enhancing refractive index sensing capability with hybrid plasmonic–photonic absorbers

We experimentally report an enhanced refractive index sensor with a maximum figure of merit (FOM*) value of about 1337 based on a hybrid plasmonic–photonic absorber via utilizing a substantial absorption contrast between a perfect absorber (∼99% at normal incidence) and a non-perfect absorber when there are changes in their surroundings.

Tunable Plasmon-Induced Transparency of Double Continuous Metal Films Sandwiched with a Plasmonic Array

Making a continuous metal film with near-unity transparency has received more and more attention in recent years because of its potential applications for various optoelectronic devices. Here, we theoretically show that a high tunable plasmon-induced transparency metal film structure can be performed by double continuous metal films inserted with a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice array of plasmonic nanopariticles. The proposed structure shows near-unity anti-reflection and intensively enhanced transmission via the cooperative effects of strong resonant near-field light input and output coupling by the plasmonic array and the excitation of surface electromagnetic waves of the metal films. The optical response can be efficiently mediated by varying the sizes of nanoparticles and the separated distance between the metal array and the metal films. With the merits of high transparency, sub-wavelength sizes and wholly retained metal characteristics including high conductivity via using the pure metallic materials, the structure proposed here suggests various potential applications in optoelectronic integrated circuits.

Multi-band light perfect absorption by a metal layer-coupled dielectric metamaterial

Multispectral light perfect absorption is desired for many applications. Herein, we propose and demonstrate a novel multi-band light perfect absorber (MLPA) scheme based on a triple-layer dielectric meta-material structure coupled with a metal substrate. Four absorption bands with the maximal absorbance up to 98.9% and the narrow bandwidth down to 2 nm are achieved in the visible range. Optical cavity resonances and the plasmon-like dipolar resonance of the high-index dielectric resonators and their hybridization effects contribute to the observed absorption behaviors. Moreover, the obtained MLPA is with high scalability in the frequency range by tuning the structural parameters. These features pave a new and feasible way for multispectral light absorption and hold applications in the optoelectronic detection, filtering and imaging.

Achieving an ultra-narrow multiband light absorption meta-surface via coupling with an optical cavity.

Resonant plasmonic and metamaterial absorbers are of particular interest for applications in a wide variety of nanotechnologies including thermophotovoltaics, photothermal therapy, hot-electron collection and biosensing. However, it is rather challenging to realize ultra-narrow absorbers using plasmonic materials due to large optical losses in metals that inevitably decrease the quality of optical resonators. Here, we theoretically report methods to achieve an ultra-narrow light absorption meta-surface by using photonic modes of the optical cavities, which strongly couple with the plasmon resonances of the metallic nanostructures. Multispectral light absorption with absorption amplitude exceeding 99% and a bandwidth approaching 10 nm is achieved at the optical frequencies. Moreover, by introducing a thick dielectric coupling cavity, the number of absorption bands can be strongly increased and the bandwidth can even be narrowed to less than 5 nm due to the resonant spectrum splitting enabled by strong coupling between the plasmon resonances and the optical cavity modes. Designing such optical cavity-coupled meta-surface structures is a promising route for achieving ultra-narrow multiband absorbers, which can be used in absorption filters, narrow-band multispectral thermal emitters and thermophotovoltaics.

One-process fabrication of metal hierarchical nanostructures with rich nanogaps for highly-sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering

One-process fabrication of highly active and reproducible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates via ion beam deposition is reported. The fabricated metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) hierarchical nanostructure possesses rich nanogaps and a tunable resonant cavity. Raman scattering signals of analytes are dramatically strengthened due to the strong near-field coupling of localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) and the strong interaction of LSPRs of metal NPs with surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on the underlying metal film by crossing over the dielectric spacer. The maximum Raman enhancement for the highest Raman peak at 1650 cm(-1) is 13.5 times greater than that of a single metal nanoparticle (NP) array. Moreover, the SERS activity can be efficiently tailored by varying the size and number of voids between adjacent metal NPs and the thickness of the dielectric spacer. These findings may broaden the scope of SERS applications of MDM hierarchical nanostructures in biomedical and analytical chemistry.

Optical cavity-assisted broadband optical transparency of a plasmonic metal film

We theoretically present a powerful method to achieve a continuous metal film structure with broadband optical transparency via introducing a dielectric Fabry-Pérot (FP) cavity. An incident optical field could be efficiently coupled and confined with the strong localized plasmons by the non-close-packed plasmonic crystal at the input part and could then become re-radiated output via the transmission channel supported by the dielectric cavity. The formed photonic-plasmonic system could therefore make the seamless metal film structure have a superior near-unity transparency (up to 97%) response and a broadband transparent spectrum with bandwidth >245 nm (with transmittance >90%) in the optical regime. The observed optical properties of the proposed structure can be highly tuned via varying the structural parameters. Based on the colloidal assembly method, the proposed plasmonic crystal can be fabricated in a large area. In addition, the achieved optical transparency can be retained in the extremely roughed metal film structure. Thereby, the findings could offer a feasible way to achieve a broadband transparent metal film structure and hold potential applications in transparent electrodes, touch screens and interactive electronics.

Narrowband Light Total Antireflection and Absorption in Metal Film–Array Structures by Plasmonic Near-Field Coupling

We study the cooperative effects between plasmon gap modes and optical cavity modes of a novel triple-layer structure consisting of double continuous gold films separated by a gold nanosphere array. Narrowband near-perfect antireflection of optical field is achieved for the first time due to the strong near-field light–matter interaction within the deep sub-wavelength gaps between adjacent nanospheres combined with the spatial field confinement effects of the optical cavity built by the double gold films. The coexistence cooperation of near-field dipole plasmon resonances and spatial optical field confinement presents more efficient light modification than that of the individual subsystem and may open a new approach to manage light flow. By varying the period of nanosphere array, the diameter of nanospheres, and the distance between the array and the film, optical behaviors of the proposed structure can be tuned in a wide range. High environmental sensitivity and large figure of merit factor are obtained using this structure as the detecting substrate. Furthermore, ultra-compact structure and high conduction suggest the proposed structure being a good candidate for potential applications in highly integrated optoelectronic devices, such as plasmonic filters and sensors.