Metallic nanostructures
are well known for their potential to enhance
resonant energy transfer between chromophores, mediated by their plasmonic
field. In most cases, the distances for efficient energy transfer
are determined by the dimensions of the structure, making dissipation
in the metal dominant when long-range energy transfer is desired.
Here, we propose and study a new mechanism for long-distance energy
transfer, which can lead to highly efficient energy transfer over
distances comparable to the optical wavelength, based on hybrid photonic–plasmonic
modes in metal-dielectric structures. We study such structures theoretically
and characterize the energy-transfer processes in them, showing that
within these structures, energy can be funneled with ∼25% efficiency
over a range of about 150 nm, with minimal dependence on the location
of the acceptor molecules inside the structure. Finally, we demonstrate
this new mechanism experimentally, providing a proof-of-concept for
long-distance energy transfer in such structures. Our multilayer system
is compatible with standard photovoltaic and organic light-emitting
diodes and therefore the mechanism presented can be readily employed
in such organic optoelectronic devices to improve their performance.