Numerical Simulation of Solar Cell Plasmonics for Small and Large Metal Nano Clusters Using Discrete Dipole Approximation

We suggest a numerical model for nano-modified plasmonic optical structure, which facilitates photons to travel larger distances inside a thin-film silicon wafer, to enhance overall absorption in thin-film silicon solar cell. The absorption and scattering calculation is done using the discrete dipole approximation technique which is valid for both small and large-particle regimes. Relaxed geometrical topologies beyond quasi static approximation were addressed in the present model. The model gives a wide range of flexibility to optimize various parameters accurately. The model establishes that aspect ratio 0.5–0.6 and particle size of 140 nm for ellipsoidal shape are optimized parameters for efficient light trapping in 900–1,100 nm spectral range.     

Numerical Simulation of Extinction Spectra of Plasmonically Coupled Nanospheres Using Discrete Dipole Approximation: Influence of Compositional Asymmetry

We demonstrate plasmon coupling phenomenon between equivalent (homodimer) and non-equivalent (heterodimer) spherical shape noble metal nanoparticle (Ag, Au and Al). A systematic comparison of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and extinction properties of various configurations (monomer, homodimer and heterodimer) has been investigated to observe the effect of compositional asymmetry. Numerical simulation has been done by using discrete dipole approximation method to study the optical properties of plasmonically coupled metal nanoparticles (MNPs). Plasmon coupling between similar nanoparticles allows only higher wavelength bonding plasmon mode while both the plasmon modes lower wavelength antibonding mode as well as higher wavelength bonding mode in the case of heterodimer. Au monomer of radius 50 nm shows resonance peak at 518 nm while plasmon coupling between Au-Au homodimer results in a spectral red shift around 609 nm. Au-Ag plasmonic heterodimer (radius 50 nm) reveals two resonant modes corresponding to higher energy antibonding mode (422 nm) as well as lower energy bonding mode (533 nm). Further, we have shown that interparticle edge-to-edge separation is the most significant parameter affecting the surface plasmon resonances of MNPs. As the inter particle separation decreases, resonance wavelength shows red spectral shift which is maximum for the touching condition. It is shown that plasmon coupling is a reliable strategy to tune the SPR.

     

Heat Dissipation of Metal Nanoparticles in the Dipole Approximation

Plasmonics - The dipolar approximation model that describes the heat delivered by a nanoparticle under continuous light irradiation provides a relation in which the dissipated power is proportional...     

Maximizing Absorption and Scattering by Dipole Particles

Plasmonics - This is a review and tutorial paper which discusses the fundamental limitations on the maximal power which can be received, absorbed, and scattered by an electrically small...     

3D Profile Simulation of Metal Nanostructures Obtained by Closely Packed Nanosphere Lithography

Closely packed lithography is a versatile technology to fabricate different kinds of periodically arranged nanostructures on substrate or in solution. Due to its large diversities and versatilities, it is necessary to predict the shape of the nanostructures under various fabrication conditions. This paper gives a full simulation for the profile of metal nanostructures fabricated by closely packed nanosphere lithography. The simulation applies to both hexagonal and quadrangular nanosphere arrangements, and the nanospheres can be in one layer or stacked in two layers, with each layer having a different size. For metal evaporated at any angle onto the nanosphere mask, three-dimensional metal nanostructures on each layer of the nanosphere as well as the substrate are given. The simulation helps to obtain the desired metal nanostructures by predicting the profiles and facilitating the process design in closely packed lithography, and it is especially beneficial for finding out the profiles of the nanostructures hidden under the nanospheres, which are undetectable without removing the nanosphere layers.     

Multispectral Broadband Light Transparency of a Seamless Metal Film Coated with Plasmonic Crystals

Broadband light transparency of metallic structures has long been pursued due to the potential applications in the optoelectronic communications, flat panel displays, and clean solar energy. Considerable efforts have been made on the multiband electromagnetic wave transparency of plasmonic metamolecules. However, far less work has been focused on the multispectral light transparency of a seamless metal film. Here, we for the first time propose a seamless metal film structure coated by double conventional plasmonic crystals and demonstrate the observed multispectral broadband light transparency behavior. A maximum transmittance larger than 92 % is achieved. The average transmittance of the whole spectral range from 550 to 1,100 nm is exceeding 45.8 %, suggesting the achievement of an ultra-broadband semi-transparent window. Particularly, the transparency features are highly scalable by tuning the structural parameters. Plasmonic resonances and the metallic particle–film plasmonic interactions are responsible for the observed optical transparency properties. These findings and merits make the proposed structure a good candidate for numerous potential applications, including the optoelectronic components, transparent displayers, and light harvesting.     

A Study of the Surface Plasmon Resonance of Silver Nanoparticles by the Discrete Dipole Approximation Method: Effect of Shape,Size, Structure,and Assembly

The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was studied with the discrete dipole approximation considering different shapes, sizes, dielectric environments, and supraparticles assemblies. In particular, we focused our simulations on AgNPs with sizes below 10 nm, where the correction of silver dielectric constant for intrinsic size effects is necessary. We found that AgNPs shape and assembly can induce distinctive features in the extinction spectra and that SPR is more intense when AgNPs have discoid or flat shapes and are embedded in a dielectric shell with high refractive index. However, the SPR loses much of its distinctive features when size effects and stabilizing molecules induce significant broadening of the extinction bands that is often observed in the case of thiolated AgNPs smaller than about 5 nm. These results are useful indications for in situ characterization and monitoring of AgNPs synthesis and for the engineering of AgNPs with new plasmonic properties.     

Study of Broadband Tunable Properties of Surface Plasmon Resonances of Noble Metal Nanoparticles Using Mie Scattering Theory: Plasmonic Perovskite Interaction

We suggest semi-analytical approach to study the optical properties of noble metal nanoparticles and their interaction to the perovskite material (methyl ammonia lead halide: CH₃NH₃PbI₃). Metal nanoparticles embedded in perovskite matrix exhibits broadband surface plasmon resonances, and the tunability of these plasmonic resonances is highly sensitive to particle size. The calculation of optical cross section have been done using Mie scattering theory which is applicable to arbitrary size and spherical-shape metal nanoparticles. We have taken five different radii ranging from 15 to 100 nm to understand the plasmonic resonances and its spectral width in the wavelength range 300 to 800 nm. Out of these noble metal nanoparticles, silver have highest scattering efficiency nearly of the order of 18 for the case of 15 nm radii at resonance wavelength 613 nm. Our finding reveals a new concept to understand the applications of plasmonic resonances in order to enhance the photon absorption inside the thin film of perovskite.     

Theoretical Simulation and Focused Ion Beam Fabrication of Gold Nanostructures for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)

This paper describes the fabrication of gold nanopillar and nanorod arrays and theoretical calculations of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) around ordered arrangements of these nanostructures. The EMFs of both single nanopillars and dimers of nanopillars—having nanoscale gaps between the two adjacent nanopillars forming the dimers—are simulated in this work by employing the finite-difference time-domain method. In the case of simulations for dimers of nanopillars, the nanoscale gaps between the nanopillars are varied between 5 and 20 nm, and calculations of the electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of the nanopillars and in the gaps between the nanopillars were carried out. Fabrication of gold nanopillars in a controlled manner for forming SERS substrates involves focused ion beam (FIB) milling. The nanostructures were fabricated on gold-coated silica, mica, and quartz planar substrates as well as on gold-coated tips of four mode and multimode silica optical fibers.     

Plasmonic Optical Properties and Applications of Metal Nanostructures

In this review article, we provide an overview of recent research activities in the study of plasmonic optical properties of metal nanostructures with emphasis on understanding the relation between surface plasmon absorption and structure. Both experimental results and theoretical calculations have indicated that the plasmonic absorption strongly depends on the detailed structure of the nanomaterials. Examples discussed include spherical nanoparticles, nanorods, nanowires, hollow nanospheres, aggregates, and nanocages. Plasmon–phonon coupling measured from dynamic studies as a function of particle size, shape, and aggregation state is also reviewed. The fascinating optical properties of metal nanostructures find important applications in a number of technological areas including surface plasmon resonance, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, and photothermal imaging and therapy. Their novel optical properties and emerging applications are illustrated using specific examples from recent literature. The case of hollow nanosphere structures is highlighted to illustrate their unique features and advantages for some of these applications.     

Plasmonic Enhancement of Fluorescence and Raman Scattering by Metal Nanotips

We report modifications to the optical properties of fluorophores in the vicinity of noble metal nanotips. The fluorescence from small clusters of quantum dots has been imaged using an apertureless scanning near-field optical microscope. When a sharp gold tip is brought close to the sample surface, a strong distance-dependent enhancement of the quantum dot fluorescence is observed, leading to a simultaneous increase in optical resolution. These results are consistent with simulations of the electric field and fluorescence enhancement near plasmonic nanostructures. Highly ordered periodic arrays of silver nanotips have been fabricated by nanosphere lithography. Using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, we have created high-resolution spatial maps of the lifetime components of vicinal fluorophores; these show an order of magnitude increase in decay rate from a localized volume around the nanotips, resulting in a commensurate enhancement in the fluorescence emission intensity. Spatial maps of the Raman scattering signal from molecules on the nanotips shows an enhancement of more than five orders of magnitude.     

Broadband Tunable and Double Dipole Surface Plasmon Resonance by TiO2 Core/Ag Shell Nanoparticles

A design of a TiO₂ core and Ag shell spherical nanoparticle is theoretically presented. The nanoparticles display double dipole plasmonic resonance peaks: one located at the ultraviolet range, the other is widely tunable from the visible to the near infrared region. The tunability can be easily controlled by varying the sizes of the core and the shell. The near field patterns of the double plasmonic resonance peaks are analyzed, and the dipole resonance modes for those two peaks are confirmed for the suitable core–shell sizes.     

Structure of Supercritical Fluid Krypton at Small Scattering Angle Using Parallel Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Abstract

We present a parallel algorithm for molecular dynamics involving short-range two- and three-body potentials and the pair-correlation function, g(r). The method is based on a spatial decomposition of the simulation box that takes advantage of a linked-cell list, and allows a load balanced partition of the computations of both the forces and g(r) over the processors. The tests of the program is conducted by evaluating the efficiency for both the thermalization phase and the production phase of the simulation. This method is successfully applied to the calculation of the direct correlation function of fluid krypton at small scattering angle along the T = 297 K supercritical isotherm.     

Amplification of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering in Photonic Crystal Fiber Using Offset Launch Method

In this paper, we report the amplification effect of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in a solid-core photonic crystal fiber. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are self-assembled on the inner walls of the cladding air holes through a multilayered deposition procedure. Offset launch method is for the first time employed to introduce extra enhancement in the intensity of SERS signals, as compared to the conventional core launch method. A theoretical analysis on modal field distribution for both launching conditions is carried out to account for such improvement. It shows that by adjusting the launching position of laser beam from the solid fiber core to an air hole in the cladding, overlap of the excited mode with AuNPs has been increased significantly. The SERS probe is demonstrated to achieve a detection limit as low as 10^?7 M in concentration, which shows a competitive performance for molecule analysis.     

Profile Simulation and Fabrication of Gold Nanostructures by Separated Nanospheres with Oblique Deposition and Perpendicular Etching

This paper investigates in detail the profiles of the nanostructures fabricated by nanosphere lithography through oblique deposition and perpendicular etching. 2D or 3D nanostructures can be achieved by this cost-effective method. Because the optical response of a particular nanoparticle depends on its size and shape, this angle deposition method can produce various shapes of nanostructures, which are suitable for localized surface plasmon resonance biosensor applications. The nanostructure profiles under various deposition and etching conditions are simulated in our work. The calculated 3D profiles are verified by the 3D nanostructures fabricated in our experiments, and the calculated 2D profiles are in good agreement with the fabricated nanocrescents reported by another research group. This paper gives a full theoretical solution of the obtainable nanostructure shapes by nanosphere lithography utilizing oblique deposition and perpendicular etching.     

Analysis of FtsZ Assembly by Light Scattering and Determination of the Role of Divalent Metal Cations

FtsZ is an ancestral homologue of tubulin that polymerizes in a GTP-dependent manner. In this study, we used 90° angle light scattering to investigate FtsZ polymerization. The critical concentration for polymerization obtained by this method is similar to that obtained by centrifugation, confirming that the light scattering is proportional to polymer mass. Furthermore, the dynamics of FtsZ polymerization could be readily monitored by light scattering. Polymerization was very rapid, reaching steady state within 30 s. The length of the steady-state phase was proportional to the GTP concentration and was followed by a rapid decrease in light scattering. This decrease indicated net depolymerization that always occurred as the GTP in the reaction was consumed. FtsZ polymerization was observed over the pH range 6.5 to 7.9. Importantly, Mg²⁺ was not required for polymerization although it was required for the dynamic behavior of the polymers. It was reported that 7 to 25 mM Ca²⁺ mediated dynamic assembly of FtsZ (X.-C. Yu and W. Margolin, EMBO J. 16:5455–5463, 1997). However, we found that Ca²⁺ was not required for FtsZ assembly and that this concentration of Ca²⁺ reduced the dynamic behavior of FtsZ assembly.     

Combination of Nanoholes with Metal Nanoparticles–Fabrication and Characterization of Novel Plasmonic Nanostructures

Small metal nanostructures, especially gold and silver nanoparticles, are known for their interesting optical properties caused by plasmonic effects. Molecular plasmonics, a combination of these optically active nanostructures with the molecular world, opens new possibilities for bioanalytics and (bio-) nanophotonics. Isotropic or anisotropic, homogeneous or heterogeneous metal nanoparticles provide a platform for different, highly defined functional units with interesting optical properties such as plasmon waveguides or molecular beacons. Nanohole arrays in metal layers are another promising component for nanophotonics. New photonic materials were realized from combinations of single metal nanoparticles with individual nanoholes in metals. Atomic force microscopic imaging was used to determine the particle location as well as the lateral dimensions and the topography of the resulting structures. Besides ultramicroscopic characterization of the nanoarrangements, such as nanoparticles positioned in nanoholes, far-field optical methods were also applied to investigate their optical properties.     

金属络合法纯化银杏黄酮的研究

为寻找一种生产周期短、分离效果好、易操作的纯化黄酮的方法,本研究利用黄酮与金属能形成络合物的性质,从反应体系溶剂、金属盐、解络合剂的添加量优化了络合法纯化银杏黄酮的工艺。结果表明,pH值对络合反应的发生及最终产品的性质具有很重要的影响。金属络合纯化法的最佳工艺条件为:以100 mL甲醇为溶剂,黄酮浓度为2.4 mg/mL,0.20 g硫酸锌为络合剂,反应溶液pH值为9.50,0.2 g EDTA为解络合剂,可以使银杏提取物中黄酮含量由24%提高到55%,得率为58%。     

Numerical Simulation of the Ionization Wave Front in Xe in the Local Energy Approximation of a Continuous Medium Model

Plasma Physics Reports - A one-dimensional numerical simulation of the parameters of the front of a negative-polarity ionization wave in Xe under the action of an electrostatic field was carried...