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Determination of the Optical Thickness of sub 10-nm Thin Metal Films by SPR Experiments

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Abstract

We discuss the experimental data of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) occurring at the interface between air and single and bimetallic thin layers of Au and Ag prepared on glass substrates. The bilayer configuration allowed for the measurements of the optical constants of metallic films that are ultra thin; e.g., below 10 nm of thickness since SPR modes on such thin films in a single-layer configuration are shallow. We also discuss the effect of film thickness on SPR coupling. Thickness and refractive index of the films were determined by matching experimental SPR curves to the theoretical ones. Thickness and roughness of the films were also measured by atomic force microscopy. The results obtained by experimental measurements are in good agreement with AFM analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research (MAScIR), Optics and Photonics Center, Rabat Design Center, Ave, Med Jazouli, Al Irfane, 10100, Rabat, Morocco

    Saif-ur Rehman, Anouar Rahmouni, Tarik Mahfoud, Dmitry V. Nesterenko & Zouheir Sekkat

  2. Faculty of Sciences, University Mohammed V-Agdal, Rabat, Morocco

    Saif-ur Rehman & Zouheir Sekkat

  3. Hassan II Academy of Sciences and Technology, Rabat, Morocco

    Zouheir Sekkat

Authors
  1. Saif-ur Rehman
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  2. Anouar Rahmouni
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  3. Tarik Mahfoud
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  4. Dmitry V. Nesterenko
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  5. Zouheir Sekkat
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Correspondence to Zouheir Sekkat.

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Rehman, Su., Rahmouni, A., Mahfoud, T. et al. Determination of the Optical Thickness of sub 10-nm Thin Metal Films by SPR Experiments. Plasmonics 9, 381–387 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-013-9635-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-013-9635-6

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