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Plasmonic effects in composite metal nanostructures for sensing applications

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Abstract

We have investigated numerically the plasmonic effect on a two-dimensional periodic array of metallic nanostructures. The unit cell of the array has an Ag nanosphere and nanorod pair formed in a single structure. Three-dimensional finite element method is used for the study on the sensing performance within the optical spectra. The study takes into account the influences of the structural and material parameters, the rotational angle of the metal nanostructure, the number of metal nanostructure per unit cell, and the localized surface plasmon resonances. The proposed nanostructures function as a refractive index sensor with a sensitivity of 400 nm/RIU (RIU is the refractive index unit), showing the characteristics of low transmittance (T = 3.90%), high absorptance (A = 94.5%), and near-zero reflectance (R = 0.15%), could be achieved by a triangular arrangement of nanostructures within a unit cell. We also show how the tailoring of the structural parameters relates to the specific sensing schematics of the sensor.

x-y sectional plane of electric field intensity, electric force lines (pink lines), energy flows (green arrows) and surface charge density of type 2, corresponding to the surrounding testing medium of (a) n=1.00 and (b) n=1.33 around the PMNSs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the University Research Grant of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (grant no. UBD/OAVCRI/CRGWG (004)/170101) and Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan (MOST 106-2112-M-019-005-MY3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Advanced Material and Energy Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Tungku Link, Gadong, BE1410, Negara Brunei Darussalam

    Yuan-Fong Chou Chau, Chee Ming Lim, Nyuk Yoong Voo & Abdul Hanif Mahadi

  2. Department of Physics, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan

    Chung-Ting Chou Chao

  3. Institute of Optoelectronic Sciences, National Taiwan Ocean University, No. 2 Pei-Ning Rd, 202, Keelung, Taiwan

    Hai-Pang Chiang

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  1. Yuan-Fong Chou Chau
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  2. Chung-Ting Chou Chao
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Correspondence to Hai-Pang Chiang.

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Chau, YF.C., Chao, CT.C., Chiang, HP. et al. Plasmonic effects in composite metal nanostructures for sensing applications. J Nanopart Res 20, 190 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-018-4293-4

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