Surface Plasmon Enhancement at a Liquid–Metal–Liquid Interface

Herein, we report the first experimental demonstration of surface plasmon enhancement at a liquid–metal–liquid interface using a pseudo-Kretschmann geometry. Pumping gold nanoparticle clusters at the interface of a p-xylene–water mixture, we were able to measure a fluorescence enhancement of three orders of magnitude in Rose Bengal at an excitation wavelength of 532 nm. The observed increase is due to the local electric field enhancement and the reduction of the fluorescence lifetime of dye molecules in the close vicinity of the metal surface. Theoretical modeling using the T-matrix method of the electric field intensity enhancement of emulated surfaces supports the experimental results. This new approach will open a new road for the study of dynamic systems using plasmonics.     

Plasmonic Photonic Bloch Oscillations in Composite Metal–Insulator–Metal Waveguide Structure

This study proposes the time-evolved plasmonic photonic Bloch oscillations (PBOs) in a composite metal–insulator–metal (CMIM) waveguide structure. This device contains two kinds of MIM waveguide with different thickness of the insulator gaps. The time-resolved plasmonic PBO motion in this CMIM waveguide can be observed by introducing a linearly graded dielectric material. The ray trajectory results from the Hamiltonian optics are consistent with the finite-difference time-domain simulation results.     

Fano Resonance in a Gear-Shaped Nanocavity of the Metal–Insulator–Metal Waveguide

The filter function of the metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide with a gear-shaped nanocavity is investigated using the finite-difference time-domain method. Since the gear breaks the symmetric distribution of the resonance, Fano resonance occurs in the gear-shaped nanocavity. Fano resonance strongly depends on the structural parameters of the gear. Compared to the MIM waveguide with a disk-shaped nanocavity, the MIM waveguide with a gear-shaped nanocavity allows for a much more sensitive detection of small refractive index changes of the filled media inside the nanocavity, which reveals a potential sensor application of the MIM waveguide with a gear-shaped nanocavity.     

Characteristics of Symmetric Surface Plasmon Polariton Mode in Glass–Metal–Glass Waveguide

The propagation characteristics of symmetric surface plasmon polariton mode in a glass–metal–glass waveguide are presented. Gallium lanthanum sulfide has been taken as the glass and silver (Ag) has been used as the metal. The analysis has been done both numerically and analytically. A two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain-based simulation model has been developed in order to analyze the propagation characteristics numerically. The obtained results using numerical and analytical methods have been compared and a very good agreement has been found.     

The Periodically Graded Metal–Insulator–Metal Gap Structure for Plasmonic Waveguides

In this paper, we explore the potential of the plasmonic metal–insulator–metal (MIM) periodically graded structure. Based on the coupled modes approach, an analytical model has been observed for the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) propagation. The band modes of SPP can be also supported by the MIM structure and we have analyzed the strong dependence of band width on structure parameters. The obtained analytical expressions allow one to easily choose the structure parameters for the desired band width.     

Tunable Localized Surface Plasmon Resonances in a New Graphene-Like Si2BN’s Nanostructures

The optical response of a new graphene-like material Si₂BN’s nanostructures and some kinds of hybrid structures formed by Si₂BN and metal nanoparticles was studied by using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). We found that the periodic structures of Si₂BN have wider absorption ranges than graphene. When the impulse excitation polarizes in different directions (armchair-edge direction and zigzag-edge direction), the absorption spectra of Si₂BN nanostructures would be different (optical anisotropy). And in the hybrid structures, the increase of metal nanoparticles’ number brings the absorption intensity strengthening and red shift, which means a stronger ability of localized surface plasmon tuning. Also, the different metal nanoparticles were used to form the hybrid structures; they show an obviously different property as well. In addition, in the kinds of situations mentioned above, the plasmons were produced in visible region. This investigation provides an improved understanding of the plasmon enhancement effect in graphene-like photoelectric devices.

     

The Plasmon–Plasmon Coupling in a System of a Dielectric Slab Doped with Silver Nano-spheres Sandwiched Between Two Silver Parallel Plates

I compute the transmission coefficient as function of the incident light frequency for a system consisting of a dielectric slab doped with silver nano-spheres sandwiched between two silver parallel plates. Then, I analyze the details of the transmission spectrum identifying the coupled plasmons from the two (doped dielectric and plates) subsystems which dominate the system’s dynamics.     

Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance and Refractive Index Sensitivity of Metal–Dielectric–Metal Multilayered Nanostructures

The localized surface plasmon resonances of multilayered nanostructures are studied using finite difference time domain simulations and plasmon hybridization method. Concentric metal–dielectric–metal (MDM) structure with metal core and nanoshell separated by a thin dielectric layer exhibits a strong coupling between the core and nanoshell plasmon resonance modes. The coupled resonance mode wavelengths show dependence on the dielectric layer thickness and composition of core and outer layer metal. The aluminum-based MDM structures show lower plasmon wavelength compared with Ag- and Au-based MDM nanostructures. The calculated refractive index sensitivity (RIS) factor is in the order Ag–Air–Ag>Au–Air–Au>Al–Air–Al for monometallic multilayered nanostructures. Bimetallic multilayered nanostructures support strong and tunable plasmon resonance wavelengths as well as high RIS factor of 510 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) and 470 nm/RIU for Al–Air–Au and Ag-Air-Au, respectively. The MDM structures not only exhibit higher index sensitivity but also cover a wide ultraviolet–near-infrared wavelengths, making these structures very promising for index sensing, biomolecule sensing, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.     

Sensitivity Enhanced by MoS2–Graphene Hybrid Structure in Guided-Wave Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor

Plasmonics - Compared with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor, guided-wave surface plasmon resonance (GWSPR) biosensor has a higher sensitivity. In order to further enhance the sensitivity...     

Design of a High-Resolution Metal–Insulator–Metal Plasmonic Refractive Index Sensor Based on a Ring-Shaped Si Resonator

In this paper, a high-resolution refractive index sensor is proposed based on a novel metal–insulator–metal plasmonic topology. The structure is based on a Si nano-ring located inside a circular cavity. It acts as an optical notch filter with a quality factor equal to 269. The proposed filter topology is numerically simulated using the finite difference time domain method. It is shown that the proposed filter can also act as a refractive index sensor with a sensitivity of 636 nm/RIU and a fairly high figure of merit (FoM) equal to 211.3 RIU⁻¹. It is shown that the sensor can easily detect a refractive index change of ± 0.001 for dielectrics whose refractive index is between 1 and 1.2. For the refractive index range of 1.33 to 1.52, the maximum FoM of the sensor is 191 RIU⁻¹. The simplicity of the design and its high resolution are the two main features of the proposed sensor which make it a good candidate for biomedical applications.

     

Tunable Properties of Surface Plasmon Resonances: The Influence of Core–Shell Thickness and Dielectric Environment

In the present study, we have investigated the extinction spectra of coated sphere (using dipole model) with different core–shell radius, in which the core is TiO₂ and the shell is made up of silver or gold nanoparticles. Nanoparticles exhibit surface plasmon resonance peak; these plasmonic peaks are highly tunable in wavelength range of 300 to 1,100 nm; in fact, the blue and red shifting of resonance peak highly depends on the core–shell thickness. The broadness of resonance peaks are analysed in terms of full width at half maxima (FWHM), and the width of these resonance peaks is also the function of core–shell radius.     

Modeling of a Graphene Nanoribbon–based Microfluidic Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor

Plasmonics - A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor based on a graphene nanoribbon array in a microfluidic flow cell operating in a flow-over format is studied. The optical response of the...     

Optical Magnetism in Surface Plasmon Resonance–Based Sensors for Enhanced Performance

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)–based structures are finding important applications in sensing biological as well as inorganic samples. In SPR techniques, an angle-resolved reflection (R) profile of the incident light from a metal-dielectric interface is measured and the resonance characteristics are extracted for the identification of the target sample. However, the performance, and hence the applicability of these structures, suffers when the weight and concentration of the target samples are small. Here, we show that SPR-based sensors can create strong magnetism at optical frequency, which can be used for the detection of target samples instead of using the conventional R profiles, as the magnetic resonance varies depending on the refractive index of the target sample. Using scattering parameters retrieval method, we computationally find out the effective permeability (μ_eff) of a SPR sensor with a structure based on Kretschmann configuration, and use it to calculate the performance of the sensor. A comparison with the conventional technique that uses R profile to detect a target sample shows a significant increase in the sensor performance when μ_eff is used instead.

     

A High-Performance Refractive Index Sensor Based on Hybrid Resonance Modes in a Square Nanocavity Coupled with Metal–Insulator–Metal Plasmonic Waveguide

Plasmonics - We present one of the simplest nanoscale systems for a high-performance refractive index (RI) sensor. We investigate analytically and numerically the transmission response of the...     

Ultra-Uniform Field Distribution in a Finite-Width Metal–Dielectric–Metal Waveguide

We investigate the propagation characteristics of the fundamental surface plasmon polariton (SPP) mode of a finite-width metal–dielectric–metal waveguide. By changing the refractive index or the thickness of the dielectric layer of the waveguide, the SPP mode can be transformed from a mode confined in the dielectric layer into a mode confined around the metal corners. There always exists a condition at which the mode field distribution in the dielectric layer becomes almost perfectly uniform along the direction parallel to the metal layers, and this condition is insensitive to the width of the waveguide. It is also possible to obtain an ultra-uniform field distribution by controlling the refractive index of a different dielectric placed on both sides of the waveguide. The waveguide can be used as a basic structure for the realization of nanosized photonic devices and sensors.     

Buried Effects of Surface Plasmon Resonance Modes for Periodic Metal–Dielectric Nanostructures Consisting of Coupled Spherical Metal Nanoparticles with Cylindrical Pore Filled with a Dielectric

We numerically investigate the buried effects of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) modes for the periodic silver-shell nanopearl dimer (PSSND) array and their solid counterparts with different buried depths in a silica substrate by means of finite element method with three-dimensional calculations. The investigated PSSND array is an important novel geometry for plasmonic metal nanoparticles (MNPs), combining the highly attractive nanoscale optical properties of both metallic nanoshell and cylindrical pore filled with a dielectric. Numerical results for SPR modes corresponding to the effects of different illumination wavelengths, absorption spectra, pore–dielectric, electric field components and total field distribution, charge density distribution, and the model of the induced local field or an applied field of the PSSND array are reported as well. It can be found that the buried MNPs with cylindrical pore filled with a dielectric in a substrate exhibit tunable SPR modes corresponding to the bonding and antibonding modes that are not observed for their solid counterparts.     

Surface Plasmon Resonance on the Antimonene–Fe2O3–Copper Layer for Optical Attenuated Total Reflection Spectroscopic Application

In this paper, we explore a highly sensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) structure. The configuration fabricated by the antimonene-Fe₂O₃-copper (Cu) is theoretically analyzed. Fe₂O₃ work as dielectric nanosheets to enhance the sensitivity. Besides, the x components of the electric field also can be improved. As promising two-dimensional (2D) material with a stronger interaction with biomolecules and higher chemical stability, antimonene exhibits potential applications in sensing. By optimizing the configuration parameters, the highest angular sensitivity of 398°/RIU. The result displays that the sensitivity is enhanced by 79.3% compared with the conventional configuration with a single Cu film. We hope that the simple configuration will find the suitable application value.

     

Tunable Goos-Hänchen Shift of Surface Plasmon Beam Due to Graphene in a Metal-Dielectric System

The tunneling of surface plasmon waves between two slabs of dielectric prisms superposed on the metal surface is studied. The prism with the incident surface plasmon wave is superposed by a stack of graphene sheets. The analytical theory is built to connect the Fermi energy of graphene with the Goos-Hänchen shift of the transmitted surface plasmon waves. The obtained results may be useful for developing integral switching devices on the basis of surface plasmon polaritons.

     

Structure–function relationship in P-type ATPases—a biophysical approach

P-type ATPases are a large family of membrane proteins that perform active ion transport across biological membranes. In these proteins the energy-providing ATP hydrolysis is coupled to ion-transport that builds up or maintains the electrochemical potential gradients of one or two ion species across the membrane. P-type ATPases are found in virtually all eukaryotic cells and also in bacteria, and they are transporters of a broad variety of ions. So far, a crystal structure with atomic resolution is available only for one species, the SR Ca-ATPase. However, biochemical and biophysical studies provide an abundance of details on the function of this class of ion pumps. The aim of this review is to summarize the results of preferentially biophysical investigations of the three best-studied ion pumps, the Na,K-ATPase, the gastric H,K-ATPase, and the SR Ca-ATPase, and to compare functional properties to recent structural insights with the aim of contributing to the understanding of their structure–function relationship.