To better understand the enhanced optical transmission observed with an array of nanoholes on optically thick metallic films, an extensive numerical calculation is presented in this paper to relate the scattering modes observed to transmittance spectral behaviour. Surface plasmon polariton Bloch waves, Wood's anomalies and localized surface plasmon resonances at the rim of the nanoholes are investigated based on scattering modes that form the features of the transmission spectrum. The finite difference time-domain method is applied to calculate the transmission intensity from films of gold and silver subjected to variations in geometrical parameters such as film thickness, spatial period of the structures and hole diameter. Analysis of transmission spectra showed that the cut-off frequency of the array of subwavelength holes is mostly defined by the thickness of the film and the diameter of the holes rather than the periodicity of the structures.

Evidence is emerging that silica-containing plant cells (phytoliths) and single cell micro-organisms (diatoms) exhibit optical properties reminiscent of photonic crystals. In the latter biosilicates, these properties appear to arise from light interactions with the intricate periodic patterns of micro-and nano-pores called foramina that are distributed over the frustule (outer silica shell). In this report, we show that Nitzschia Closterium pennate diatom frustules can be used to template arrays of nanoplasmonic particles to confer more complex physical properties, as shown by simulation and experiment. Selective templating of silver and gold nanoparticles in and around the array of pores was achieved by topochemical functionalization with nanoparticles deposited from solution, or by differential wetting/dewetting of evaporated gold films. The nanoplasmonic diatom frustules exhibit surface enhanced Raman scattering from chemisorbed 4-aminothiophenol. Thermally induced dewetting of gold films deposited on a frustule produces two classes of faceted gold nanoparticles. Larger particles of irregular shape are distributed with some degree of uniaxial anisotropy on the surface of the frustule. Smaller particles of more uniform size are deposited in a periodic manner in the frustule pores. It is thought that surface curvature and defects drive the hydrodynamic dewetting events that give rise to the different classes of nanoparticles. Finite difference time domain calculations on an idealized nanoplasmonic frustule suggest a complex electromagnetic field response due to coupling between localized surface plasmon modes of the nanoparticles in the foramina and an overlayer gold film.

The diatom, Nitzschia palea, exhibits complex silica shell (frustule) topography that resembles the warp and weft pattern of woven glass. The surface is perforated with a rhombic lattice of roughly oblong pores between periodically undulating transverse weft costae. Exfoliated frustules can be used to template gold nanoparticles by thermally induced dewetting of thin gold films. Acting as templates for the process, the frustules give rise to two coexisting hierarchies of particle sizes and patterned distributions of nanoparticles. By examining temperature dependent dewetting of 5, 10, and 15 nm Au films for various annealing times, we establish conditions for particle formation and patterning. The 5 nm film gives distributions of small particles randomly distributed over the surface and multiple particles at the rhombic lattice points in the pores. Thicker films yield larger faceted particles on the surface and particles that exhibit shapes that are roughly conformal with the shape of the pore container. The pores and costae are sources of curvature instabilities in the film that lead to mass transport of gold and selective accumulation in the weft valleys and pores. We suggest that, with respect to dewetting, the frustule comprises 2-dimensional sublattices of trapping sites. The pattern of dewetting is radically altered by interposing a self-assembled molecular adhesive of mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane between the Au film overlayer and the frustule. By adjusting the interfacial energy in this manner, a fractal-like overlay of Au islands coexists with a periodic distribution of nanoparticles in the pores.

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We present a numerical study on effect of temperature on the performance of a waveguide luminescent solar concentrator (LSC). The purpose is to determine how changes in temperature of the ambient environment of an LSC affect device performance. The thermo-optical coefficient of the polymer waveguide is modeled using the well known Prod'homme formulation and applied in a forward Monte Carlo ray-tracing simulation. We show that the number of collected photons decreases almost linearly as the ambient temperature increases from -50 ºC to +50ºC. This behavior is associated with several competing loss mechanisms in the waveguide. For example, increases in optical confinement due to increased refractive index at low temperature are opposed by increases in cone loss (escape loss) of photons. Other competing mechanisms that exhibit temperature dependence are explained in terms of a detailed balance treatment of the LSC as a function of temperature.