Deep subwavelength integration of high-definition plasmonic nanostructures is of key importance in the development of future optical nanocircuitry for high-speed communication, quantum computation and lab-on-a-chip applications. To date, the experimental realization of proposed extended plasmonic networks consisting of multiple functional elements remains challenging, mainly because of the multi-crystallinity of commonly used thermally evaporated gold layers. This can produce structural imperfections in individual circuit elements that drastically reduce the yield of functional integrated nanocircuits. In this paper we demonstrate the use of large (>100 μm(2)) but thin (<80 nm) chemically grown single-crystalline gold flakes that, after immobilization, serve as an ideal basis for focused ion beam milling and other top-down nanofabrication techniques on any desired substrate. Using this methodology we obtain high-definition ultrasmooth gold nanostructures with superior optical properties and reproducible nano-sized features over micrometre-length scales. Our approach provides a possible solution to overcome the current fabrication bottleneck and realize high-definition plasmonic nanocircuitry.

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The thermal conductivity of individual multiwalled carbon nanotubes was measured by utilizing the four-point-probe third-harmonic method, based on the fact that the third harmonic amplitude and phase as a response to applied alternate current at fundamental frequency, omega, can be expressed in terms of thermal conductivity and diffusivity. To this end, a microfabricated device composed of four metal electrodes was modified to manufacture nanometer-sized wires by using a focused ion beam source. A carbon nanotube could then be suspended over a deep trench milled by the focused ion beam, preventing heat loss to the substrate. Compared with the two-point-probe technique, a significant improvement in accuracy is assured by using four probes, because the contact contribution to the determination of the thermal conductivity is eliminated, making it possible to measure the correct signals of first and third harmonics. The multiwalled carbon nanotube was modeled as a one-dimensional diffusive energy transporter and its thermal conductivity was measured at room temperature under vacuum to be 300 +/- 20 W/mK.

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The thermal conductivity of individual multiwalled carbon nanotubes (outer diameter of ∼45nm) was obtained by employing the 3-ω method. To this end, the third-harmonic amplitude as a response to the applied alternate current at fundamental frequency (ω) is expressed in terms of thermal conductivity. A microfabricated device composed of a pair of metal electrodes 1μm apart is used to place a single nanotube across the designated metal electrodes by utilizing the principle of dielectrophoresis. The multiwalled carbon nanotube was modeled as a one-dimensional diffusive energy transporter and its thermal conductivity was measured to be 650–830W∕mK at room temperature.