Impact of Tamm Plasmon Structures on Fluorescence and Optical Nonlinearity of Graphene Quantum Dots

Abstract

Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) are crucial in biomedicine for sensitive biosensing and high-resolution bioimaging, and in photonics for their nonlinear optical properties. Integrating GQDs with photonic structures, enhances optical properties, optimizing light-matter interactions and enabling precise control over resonance wavelengths. Tamm Plasmon Cavity (TPC) structures are pivotal in photonics, offering innovative solutions to traditional plasmonic limitations. In this work, we explore a facile synthesis method of GQDs by laser irradiation and highlight the transformative potential of TPC structures in amplifying the properties of nanomaterials like GQDs. The characterization of GQDs reveals their exceptional properties, including efficient optical limiting, and stable photoluminescence. The study demonstrates that the TPC structure significantly amplifies the nonlinear optical effects due to the high light-matter interaction indicating the potential for advanced optical systems, including optical limiters and nonlinear optical devices. Furthermore, introducing GQDs into the TPC structure leads to a significant enhancement and tuning of fluorescence emission. The Purcell effect, in combination with the confined electromagnetic fields within the TPC, increases the spontaneous emission rate of GQDs and subsequently enhances fluorescence intensity. This enhanced and tunable fluorescence has exciting implications for high-sensitivity applications like biosensing and single-molecule detection.