Qingzhen Hao

Nitrogen-doped graphene: beyond single substitution and enhanced molecular sensing.

Graphene is a two-dimensional network in which sp2-hybridized carbon atoms are arranged in two different triangular sub-lattices (A and B). By incorporating nitrogen atoms into graphene, its physico-chemical properties could be significantly altered depending on the doping configuration within the sub-lattices. Here, we describe the synthesis of large-area, highly-crystalline monolayer N-doped graphene (NG) sheets via atmospheric-pressure chemical vapor deposition, yielding a unique N-doping site composed of two quasi-adjacent substitutional nitrogen atoms within the same graphene sub-lattice (N2AA). Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM and STS) of NG revealed the presence of localized states in the conduction band induced by N2AA-doping, which was confirmed by ab initio calculations. Furthermore, we demonstrated for the first time that NG could be used to efficiently probe organic molecules via a highly improved graphene enhanced Raman scattering.

Polarization-independent dual-band infrared perfect absorber based on a metal-dielectric-metal elliptical nanodisk array.

We have designed and fabricated a dual-band plasmonic absorber in the near-infrared by employing a three-layer structure comprised of an elliptical nanodisk array on top of thin dielectric and metallic films. finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations indicate that absorption efficiencies greater than 99% can be achieved for both resonance frequencies at normal incidence and the tunable range of the resonant frequency was modeled up to 700 nm by varying the dimensions of the three-layer, elliptical nanodisk array. The symmetry in our two-dimensional nanodisk array eliminates any polarization dependence within the structure, and the near-perfect absorption efficiency is only slightly affected by large incidence angles up to 50 degrees. Experimental measurements demonstrate good agreement with our simulation results.

A frequency-addressed plasmonic switch based on dual-frequency liquid crystals

A frequency-addressed plasmonic switch was demonstrated by embedding a uniform gold nanodisk array into dual-frequency liquid crystals (DFLCs). The optical properties of the hybrid system were characterized by extinction spectra of localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs). The LSPR peak was tuned using a frequency-dependent electric field. A ∼4 nm blueshift was observed for frequencies below 15 kHz, and a 23 nm redshift was observed for frequencies above 15 kHz. The switching time for the system was ∼40 ms. This DFLC-based active plasmonic system demonstrates an excellent, reversible, frequency-dependent switching behavior and could be used in future integrated nanophotonic circuits.

Light-driven tunable dual-band plasmonic absorber using liquid-crystal-coated asymmetric nanodisk array

We experimentally demonstrated a light-driven reconfigurable near perfect plasmonic absorber working at dual frequencies in infrared range. By employing nanodisks with different sizes in certain arrangement, near perfect absorption of incident electromagnetic waves can be achieved for different working frequencies due to the resonance between the incident light and the nanodisk of different sizes. We showed that optically induced changes in the dielectric constant of the adjacent liquid crystal layer is an effective means to tune the absorption bands of an asymmetric gold nanodisk array. Our liquid crystal based infrared plasmonic absorber can be tuned by using visible light in real time. A tunable range of 25 nm has been confirmed by both simulation and experiment.

Beam bending via plasmonic lenses.

We have designed and characterized three different types of plasmonic lenses that cannot only focus, but can also bend electromagnetic (EM) waves. The bending effect is achieved by constructing an asymmetric phase front caused by varying phase retardations in EM waves as they pass through a plasmonic lens. With an incident wave normal to the lens surface, light bends up to 8° off the axial direction. The optical wave propagation was numerically investigated using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Simulation results show that the proposed plasmonic lenses allow effective beam bending under both normal and tilted incidence. With their relatively large bending range and capability to perform in the far field, the plamsonic lenses described in this article could be valuable in applications such as photonic communication and plasmonic circuits.

Light-driven artificial molecular machines

Artificial molecular machines represent a growing field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Stimulated by chemical reagents, electricity, or light, artificial molecular machines exhibit precisely controlled motion at the molecular level; with this ability molecular machines have the potential to make significant impacts in numerous engineering applications. Compared with molecular machines powered by chemical or electrical energy, light-driven molecular machines have several advantages: light can be switched much faster, work without producing chemical waste, and be used for dual purposes—inducing (writing) as well as detecting (reading) molecular motions. The following issues are significant for light-driven artificial molecular machines in the following aspects: their chemical structures, motion mechanisms, assembly and characterization on solid-state surfaces. Applications in different fields of nanotechnology such as molecular electronics, nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS), nanophotonics, and nanomedicine are envisaged.

Tuning surface-enhanced Raman scattering from graphene substrates using the electric field effect and chemical doping

Graphene recently has been demonstrated to support surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Here, we show that the enhancement of the Raman signal of methylene blue on graphene can be tuned by using either the electric field effect or chemical doping. Both doping experiments show that hole-doped graphene yields a larger enhancement than one which is electron-doped; however, chemical doping leads to a significantly larger modulation of the enhancements. The observed enhancement correlates with the changes in the Fermi level of graphene, indicating that the enhancement is chemical in nature, as electromagnetic enhancement is ruled out by hybrid electrodynamical and quantum mechanical simulations.

Frequency-addressed tunable transmission in optically thin metallic nanohole arrays with dual-frequency liquid crystals

Frequency-addressed tunable transmission is demonstrated in optically thin metallic nanohole arrays embedded in dual-frequency liquid crystals (DFLCs). The optical properties of the composite system are characterized by the transmission spectra of the nanoholes, and a prominent transmission peak is shown to originate from the resonance of localized surface plasmons at the edges of the nanoholes. An ∼17 nm shift in the transmission peak is observed between the two alignment configurations of the liquid crystals. This DFLC-based active plasmonic system demonstrates excellent frequency-dependent switching behavior and could be useful in future nanophotonic applications.

Scalable Manufacturing of Plasmonic Nanodisk Dimers and Cusp Nanostructures using Salting-out Quenching Method and Colloidal Lithography

Localization of large electric fields in plasmonic nanostructures enables various processes such as single-molecule detection, higher harmonic light generation, and control of molecular fluorescence and absorption. High-throughput, simple nanofabrication techniques are essential for implementing plasmonic nanostructures with large electric fields for practical applications. In this article we demonstrate a scalable, rapid, and inexpensive fabrication method based on the salting-out quenching technique and colloidal lithography for the fabrication of two types of nanostructures with large electric field: nanodisk dimers and cusp nanostructures. Our technique relies on fabricating polystyrene doublets from single beads by controlled aggregation and later using them as soft masks to fabricate metal nanodisk dimers and nanocusp structures. Both of these structures have a well-defined geometry for the localization of large electric fields comparable to structures fabricated by conventional nanofabrication techniques. We also show that various parameters in the fabrication process can be adjusted to tune the geometry of the final structures and control their plasmonic properties. With advantages in throughput, cost, and geometric tunability, our fabrication method can be valuable in many applications that require plasmonic nanostructures with large electric fields.

Characterization of complementary patterned metallic membranes produced simultaneously by a dual fabrication process

An efficient technique is developed to fabricate optically thin metallic films with subwavelength patterns and their complements simultaneously. By comparing the spectra of the complementary films, we show that Babinet’s principle nearly holds for these structures in the optical domain. Rigorous full-wave simulations are employed to verify the experimental observations. It is further demonstrated that a discrete-dipole approximation can qualitatively describe the spectral dependence of the metallic membranes on the geometry of the constituent particles as well as the illuminating polarization.