Plasmonic Bullseye Nanocavities for Broadband Light Localization and Multi‐Wavelength SERS

Abstract

Plasmonic nanostructures capable of broadband light trapping and field enhancement have promising applications in a wide range of fields. This study presents a platform for broadband, polarization‐independent field enhancement in the visible regime through the use of width‐graded nanocavities in a bullseye configuration. The fabrication procedure utilizes electron beam lithography (EBL) to achieve fine control over the nanocavity geometry and template stripping to enable rapid and low‐cost production. The utility of these devices as substrates for multi‐wavelength surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is demonstrated through molecular detection in a 10 μM solution at two excitation wavelengths. The impact of bullseye geometry on both the broadband spectral response and multi‐wavelength SERS performance is examined. The measured SERS enhancement factor (EF) is shown to depend primarily on the plasmonically active surface area of the device, regardless of the local electromagnetic field strength within the nanocavities. These results highlight not only the utility of the width‐graded bullseye as a broadband platform for SERS and other applications but also provide design guidelines to optimize the enhancement factor and broadband performance of similar devices.