Survey of plasmonic gaps tuned at sub-nanometer scale in self-assembled arrays

• Published in: Frontiers of physics 2016-04, Vol.11 (2), p.57-65, Article 115204
• Main Authors: Qian, Li-Hua, Yi, Li-Zhi, Wang, Gui-Sheng, Zhang, Chao, Yuan, Song-Liu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arrays; Astronomy; Astrophysics and Cosmology; Atomic; Condensed Matter Physics; Electron beam lithography; Frontiers of Plasmonics; Ion beams; Molecular; Nanofabrication; nanoparticle array; Nanoparticles; Noble metals; Nonlinear optics; Optical and Plasma Physics; Optics; Particle and Nuclear Physics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; plasmonic gap; Plasmonics; quantum plasmon; Raman spectra; Review Article; Self-assembly; surface plasmon; surface-enhanced Raman scattering; tunable; 排列; 电子束光刻技术; 纳米光子学; 纳米尺度; 自组装; 表面增强拉曼散射; 调谐; 金属纳米粒子
• ISSN: 2095-0462; 2095-0470
• DOI: 10.1007/s11467-016-0567-4

Creating nanoscale and sub-nanometer gaps between noble metal nanoparticles is critical for the applications of plasmonics and nanophotonics. To realize simultaneous attainments of both the optical spectrum and the gap size, the ability to tune these nanoscale gaps at the sub-nanometer scale is particularly desirable. Many nanofabrication methodologies, including electron beam lithography, self-assembly, and focused ion beams, have been tested for creating nanoscale gaps that can deliver significant field enhancement. Here, we survey recent progress in both the reliable creation of nanoscale gaps in nanoparticle arrays using self-assemblies and in the in-situ tuning techniques at the sub-nanometer scale. Precisely tunable gaps, as we expect, will be good candidates for future investigations of surface-enhanced Raman scattering, non-linear optics, and quantum plasmonics.