Vanadium Dioxide–Iridium Composite Development: Specific Near Infrared Surface Plasmon Resonance

Abstract

This work serves as a roadmap for the development of a Vanadium dioxide (VO2)–Iridium composite based on the self-assembly of closely packed colloidal polystyrene microspheres (P-spheres) coupled with a Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) process. The self-assembly of a monolayer of PS is performed on an Al2O3-c substrate, using an adapted Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) process. Then, on the substrate covered with P-spheres, a 50-nanometer Iridium layer is deposited by PLD. The Iridium deposition is followed by the removal of PS with acetone, revealing an array of triangular shaped metallic elements formed on the underlaying substrate. In a last deposition step, 50-, 100- and 200-nanometer thin films of VO2 are deposited by PLD on top of the substrates covered with the Iridium quasi-triangles, forming a composite. Adapting the size of the P-spheres leads to control of both the size of the Iridium micro-triangle and, consequently, the optical transmittance of the composite. Owing to their shape and size the Iridium micro-triangles exhibit localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) characterized by a selective absorption of light. Due to the temperature dependent properties of VO2, the LSPR properties of the composite can be changeable and tunable.

Adaptive gold/vanadium dioxide periodic arrays for infrared optical modulation

“…NSL takes advantage of the excellent control of geometric parameters offered by the top-down method and the excellent quality of particles given by the bottom-up approach. In the NSL procedure, a 2D colloidal crystal made from colloidal nano-/micro-spheres is used as a mask for subsequent material deposition [37]. Note that nano-/micro-spheres can be kept and used as a 2D colloidal crystal directly in the fabricated systems [38].…”

Temperature-Sensitive Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance of α-NiS Nanoparticles

“…The only other studies of this type, which were conducted very recently, were working with films of VO 2 particles with diameters larger than 70 nm, showing infrared LSPR signals. 7 − 9 …”

“…To the best of the authors’ knowledge, an optical investigation of an LSPR in the visible regime of the electromagnetic spectrum in combination with a metal–insulator type transition or an analysis of a plasmonic material showing such a transition in colloidal solution has not been reported yet. The only other studies of this type, which were conducted very recently, were working with films of VO 2 particles with diameters larger than 70 nm, showing infrared LSPR signals. − …”