The sub-diffraction imaging of the optical near-field in nanostructures, based on a photochemical technique, is reported. A photosensitive azobenzene-dye polymer is spin coated onto lithographic structures and is subsequently irradiated with laser light. Photoinduced mass transport creates topographic modifications at the polymer film surface that are then measured with atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM images correlate with rigorous theoretical calculations of the near-field intensities for a range of different nanostructures and illumination polarizations. This approach is a first step toward additional methods for resolving confined optical near fields, which can augment scanning probe methodologies for high spatial resolution of optical near fields.

The role of surface plasmon in second harmonic generation from arrays of gold nanorod particles excited by femtosecond laser pulses is investigated as a function of incident light polarization and irradiation wavelength. In addition to photoluminescence, a peak of second harmonic is observed and is found to depend on the polarization and wavelength of the fundamental frequency laser beam. In particular, the authors found similarities between extinction spectra of the nanoparticles and spectra of emmitted second harmonic. This behavior can be explained by resonant excitation of localized surface plasmon resonances.

No abstract

Photodetection in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectrum is a challenging task achieved often by costly low bandgap compound semiconductors involving highly toxic elements. In this work, an alternative low-cost approach is reported for SWIR sensors that rely on the plasmonic-induced photothermal effect of solution-processed colloidal gold nanorods (Au NRs). A series of uniform solution-processed Au NRs of various aspect ratios are prepared exhibiting a strong and well-defined longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonance (L-LSPR) maximum from 900 nm to 1.3 µm. A hybrid device structure is fabricated by applying Au NRs on the surface of a thermistor. Under a monochromatic illumination, hybrid Au-NR/thermistor devices exhibit a clear photoresponse in the form of photoinduced resistance drop in the wavelength window from 1.0 to 1.8 µm. The photoresponsivity of such hybrid devices reaches a maximum value of 4.44 × 10 Ω W at λ = 1.4 µm (intensity = 0.28 mW cm ), a wavelength in agreement with the L-LSPR of the Au NRs applied. Colloidal Au NRs, capable to perform fast conversion between photon absorption and thermal energy, thus open an interesting avenue for alternative low-cost SWIR photodetection.