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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 271 records · Page 15
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

The Prevalence of Anions at Plasmonic Nanojunctions: A Closer Look at P-Nitrothiophenol

We revisit the reductive coupling of p-nitrothiophenol (NTP) to form dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB), herein monitored through gap-mode tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) and nano-imaging. We employ a plasmonic Au probe (100 nm diameter at its apex) illuminated with a 633 nm laser source (50 ?W/?m2 at the sample position) to image a NTP-coated faceted silver nanoparticle (~70 nm diameter). A detailed analysis of the recorded spectra reveals that anionic NTP species contribute to the recorded spectral images, in addition to the more thoroughly described DMAB product. Notably, the signatures of the anions are more pronounced than those of the DMAB product under our present experimental conditions. Our results thus demonstrate that anions and their spectral signatures must be considered in the analysis of plasmon-enhanced spectra and images.

Wang, Chih-Feng↗
DOE OSTI2020

Activation and Assembly of Plasmonic-Magnetic Nanosurfactants for Encapsulation and Triggered Release

Multifunctional surfactants hold great potentials in catalysis, separation, and biomedicine. Highly active plasmonic-magnetic nanosurfactants are developed through a novel acid activation treatment of Au–Fe 3 O 4 dumbbell nanocrystals. The activation step significantly boosts nanosurfactant surface energy and enables the strong adsorption at interfaces, which reduces the interfacial energy one order of magnitude. Mediated through the adsorption at the emulsion interfaces, the nanosurfactants are further constructed into free-standing hierarchical structures, including capsules, inverse capsules, and two-dimensional sheets. The nanosurfactant orientation and assembly structures follow the same packing parameter principles of surfactant molecules. Furthermore, nanosurfactants demonstrate the capability to disperse and encapsulate homogeneous nanoparticles and small molecules without adding any molecular surfactants. The assembled structures are responsive to external magnetic field, and triggered release is achieved using an infrared laser by taking advantage of the enhanced surface plasmon resonance of nanosurfactant assemblies. Finally, solvent and pH changes are also utilized to achieve the cargo release.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Hyperbolic Cooper-Pair Polaritons in Planar Graphene/Cuprate Plasmonic Cavities

Hyperbolic Cooper-pair polaritons (HCP) in cuprate superconductors are of fundamental interest due to their potential for providing insights into the nature of unconventional superconductivity. In this study, we critically assess an experimental approach using near-field imaging to probe HCP in Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+x (Bi-2212) in the presence of graphene surface plasmon polaritons (SPP). Our simulations show that inherently weak HCP features in the near-field can be strongly enhanced when coupled to graphene SPP in layered graphene/hexagonal boron nitride (hBN)/Bi-2212 heterostructures. This enhancement arises from our multilayered structures effectively acting as plasmonic cavities capable of altering collective modes of a layered superconductor by modifying its electromagnetic environment. The degree of enhancement can be selectively controlled by tuning the insulating spacer thickness with atomic precision. Finally, we verify the expected renormalization of room-temperature graphene SPP using near-field infrared imaging. Our modeling, augmented with data, attests to the validity of our approach for probing HCP modes in cuprate superconductors.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Multifunctional Metal–Oxide Nanocomposite Thin Film with Plasmonic Au Nanopillars Embedded in Magnetic La 0.67 Sr 0.33 MnO 3 Matrix

Searching for multifunctional materials with tunable magnetic and optical properties has been a critical task toward the implementation of future integrated optical devices. Vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) thin films provide a unique platform for multifunctional material designs. In this work, a new metal–oxide VAN has been designed with plasmonic Au nanopillars embedded in a ferromagnetic La 0.67 Sr 0.33 MnO 3 (LSMO) matrix. Such Au–LSMO nanocomposite presents intriguing plasmon resonance in the visible range and magnetic anisotropy property, which are functionalized by the Au and LSMO phase, respectively. Furthermore, the vertically aligned nanostructure of metal and dielectric oxide results in the hyperbolic property for near-field electromagnetic wave manipulation. Such optical and magnetic response could be further tailored by tuning the composition of Au and LSMO phases.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Energy-Resolved Femtosecond Hot Electron Dynamics in Single Plasmonic Nanoparticles

Efficient excitation and harvesting of hot carriers from nanoscale metals is central to many emerging photochemical, photovoltaic, and ultrafast optoelectronic applications. Nevertheless, direct experimental evidence of the energy-dependent femtosecond dynamics in ubiquitous tens-of-nanometer gold structures remains elusive, despite the potentially rich interplay between interfacial and internal plasmonic fields, excitation distributions, and scattering processes. To explore the effects of nanoscale structure on these dynamics, we employ simultaneous time-, angle-, and energy-resolved photoemission spectroscopy of single plasmonic nanoparticles. Photoelectron velocity and electric field distributions reveal bulk-like ballistic hot electron transport in different geometries, lacking any signatures of surface effects. Energy-resolved dynamics are measured in the 1–2 eV range and extrapolated to lower energies via Boltzmann theory, providing a detailed view of hot electron lifetimes within nanoscale gold. Here, we find that particles with relevant dimensions as small as 10 nm serve as exemplary platforms for studying intrinsic metal dynamics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Ten years of spasers and plasmonic nanolasers

Ten years ago, three teams experimentally demonstrated the first spasers, or plasmonic nanolasers, after the spaser concept was first proposed theoretically in 2003. An overview of the significant progress achieved over the last 10 years is presented here, together with the original context of and motivations for this research. After a general introduction, we first summarize the fundamental properties of spasers and discuss the major motivations that led to the first demonstrations of spasers and nanolasers. This is followed by an overview of crucial technological progress, including lasing threshold reduction, dynamic modulation, room-temperature operation, electrical injection, the control and improvement of spasers, the array operation of spasers, and selected applications of single-particle spasers. Research prospects are presented in relation to several directions of development, including further miniaturization, the relationship with Bose–Einstein condensation, novel spaser-based interconnects, and other features of spasers and plasmonic lasers that have yet to be realized or challenges that are still to be overcome.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Surface plasmons induce topological transition in graphene/α-MoO3 heterostructures

Abstract Polaritons in hyperbolic van der Waals materials—where principal axes have permittivities of opposite signs—are light-matter modes with unique properties and promising applications. Isofrequency contours of hyperbolic polaritons may undergo topological transitions from open hyperbolas to closed ellipse-like curves, prompting an abrupt change in physical properties. Electronically-tunable topological transitions are especially desirable for future integrated technologies but have yet to be demonstrated. In this work, we present a doping-induced topological transition effected by plasmon-phonon hybridization in graphene/α-MoO 3 heterostructures. Scanning near-field optical microscopy was used to image hybrid polaritons in graphene/α-MoO 3 . We demonstrate the topological transition and characterize hybrid modes, which can be tuned from surface waves to bulk waveguide modes, traversing an exceptional point arising from the anisotropic plasmon-phonon coupling. Graphene/α-MoO 3 heterostructures offer the possibility to explore dynamical topological transitions and directional coupling that could inspire new nanophotonic and quantum devices.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

Observation of interlayer plasmon polaron in graphene/WS 2 heterostructures

Harnessing electronic excitations involving coherent coupling to bosonic modes is essential for the design and control of emergent phenomena in quantum materials. In situations where charge carriers induce a lattice distortion due to the electron-phonon interaction, the conducting states get “dressed", which leads to the formation of polaronic quasiparticles. The exploration of polaronic effects on low-energy excitations is in its infancy in two-dimensional materials. Here, we present the discovery of an interlayer plasmon polaron in heterostructures composed of graphene on top of single-layer WS 2 . By using micro-focused angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy during in situ doping of the top graphene layer, we observe a strong quasiparticle peak accompanied by several carrier density-dependent shake-off replicas around the single-layer WS 2 conduction band minimum. Our results are explained by an effective many-body model in terms of a coupling between single-layer WS 2 conduction electrons and an interlayer plasmon mode. It is important to take into account the presence of such interlayer collective modes, as they have profound consequences for the electronic and optical properties of heterostructures that are routinely explored in many device architectures involving 2D transition metal dichalcogenides.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Plasmonic photoconductive terahertz focal-plane array with pixel super-resolution

Abstract Imaging systems operating in the terahertz part of the electromagnetic spectrum are attractive due to their ability to penetrate many opaque materials and provide unique spectral signatures of various chemicals. However, the use of terahertz imagers in real-world applications has been limited by the slow speed, large size, high cost and complexity of present systems, largely due to the lack of suitable terahertz focal-plane array detectors. Here we report a terahertz focal-plane array that can directly provide the spatial amplitude and phase distributions, along with the ultrafast temporal and spectral information of an imaged object. It consists of a two-dimensional array of ~0.3 million plasmonic photoconductive nanoantennas optimized to rapidly detect broadband terahertz radiation with a high signal-to-noise ratio. We utilized the multispectral nature of the amplitude and phase data captured by these plasmonic nanoantennas to image different objects, including super-resolved etched patterns in a silicon substrate and defects in battery electrodes. By eliminating the need for raster scanning and spatial terahertz modulation, our terahertz focal-plane array offers more than a 1,000-fold increase in the imaging speed compared with the state of the art and potentially suits a broad range of applications in industrial inspection, security screening and medical diagnosis, among others.

Optics↗
DOE OSTI2023

Pines’ demon observed as a 3D acoustic plasmon in Sr2RuO4

Abstract The characteristic excitation of a metal is its plasmon, which is a quantized collective oscillation of its electron density. In 1956, David Pines predicted that a distinct type of plasmon, dubbed a ‘demon’, could exist in three-dimensional (3D) metals containing more than one species of charge carrier 1 . Consisting of out-of-phase movement of electrons in different bands, demons are acoustic, electrically neutral and do not couple to light, so have never been detected in an equilibrium, 3D metal. Nevertheless, demons are believed to be critical for diverse phenomena including phase transitions in mixed-valence semimetals 2 , optical properties of metal nanoparticles 3 , soundarons in Weyl semimetals 4 and high-temperature superconductivity in, for example, metal hydrides 3,5–7 . Here, we present evidence for a demon in Sr 2 RuO 4 from momentum-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Formed of electrons in the β and γ bands, the demon is gapless with critical momentum q c = 0.08 reciprocal lattice units and room-temperature velocity v = (1.065 ± 0.12) × 10 5 m s −1 that undergoes a 31% renormalization upon cooling to 30 K because of coupling to the particle–hole continuum. The momentum dependence of the intensity of the demon confirms its neutral character. Our study confirms a 67-year old prediction and indicates that demons may be a pervasive feature of multiband metals.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2023

Solvent-induced local environment effect in plasmonic catalysis

Solvents are known to affect the local surface plasmon resonance of metal nanoparticles; however, how solvents can be used to manipulate the interfacial charge and energy transfer in plasmonic catalysis remains to be explored.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Voltage-induced modulation of interfacial ionic liquids measured using surface plasmon resonant grating nanostructures

We have used surface plasmon resonant metal gratings to induce and probe the dielectric response (i.e., electro-optic modulation) of ionic liquids (ILs) at electrode interfaces. Here, the cross-plane electric field at the electrode surface modulates the refractive index of the IL due to the Pockels effect. This is observed as a shift in the resonant angle of the grating (i.e., Δϕ), which can be related to the change in the local index of refraction of the electrolyte (i.e., Δnlocal). The reflection modulation of the IL is compared against a polar (D2O) and a non-polar solvent (benzene) to confirm the electro-optic origin of resonance shift. The electrostatic accumulation of ions from the IL induces local index changes to the gratings over the extent of electrical double layer (EDL) thickness. Finite difference time domain simulations are used to relate the observed shifts in the plasmon resonance and change in reflection to the change in the local index of refraction of the electrolyte and the thickness of the EDL. Simultaneously using the wavelength and intensity shift of the resonance enables us to determine both the effective thickness and Δn of the double layer. We believe that this technique can be used more broadly, allowing the dynamics associated with the potential-induced ordering and rearrangement of ionic species in electrode–solution interfaces.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2020

Plasmon excitations in chemically heterogeneous nanoarrays

The capability of collective excitations, such as localized surface plasmon resonances, to produce a versatile spectrum of optical phenomena is governed by the interactions within the collective and single-particle responses in the finite system. In many practical instances, plasmonic metallic nanoparticles and arrays are either topologically or chemically heterogeneous, which affects both the constituent transitions and their interactions. Here, the formation of collective excitations in weakly Cu- and Pd-doped Au nanoarrays is described using time-dependent density functional theory. The additional impurity-induced modes in the optical response can be thought to result from intricate interactions between separated excitations or transitions. In this work, we investigate the heterogeneity at the impurity level, the symmetry aspects related to the impurity position, and the influence of the impurity position on the confinement phenomena. The chemically rich and symmetry-dependent quantum mechanical effects are analyzed with transition contribution maps demonstrating the possibility to develop nanostructures with more controlled collective properties.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Plasmonic Nonreciprocity Driven by Band Hybridization in Moiré Materials

Here, we propose a new current-driven mechanism for achieving significant plasmon dispersion nonreciprocity in systems with narrow, strongly hybridized electron bands. The magnitude of the effect is controlled by the strength of electron-electron interactions α , which leads to its particular prominence in moiré materials, characterized by $α \gg$ 1. Moreover, this phenomenon is most evident in the regime where Landau damping is quenched and plasmon lifetime is increased. The synergy of these two effects holds great promise for novel optoelectronic applications of moiré materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Harnessing Plasmonic Interference for Nanoscale Ultrafast Electron Sources

In this Letter we demonstrate the use of plasmonic focusing in conjunction with nonlinear photoemission to develop geometrically flat nanoscale electron sources with less than 40 pm-rad root mean squared (rms) normalized transverse emittance. Circularly polarized light is incident on a gold Archimedean spiral structure to generate surface-plasmon polaritons that interfere coherently at the center resulting in a 50 nm rms emission area. Furthermore, such a nanostructured flat surface enables simultaneous spatiotemporal confinement of emitted electrons at the nanometer and femtosecond level and can be used as an advanced electron source for high-repetition-rate ultrafast electron diffraction and microscopy experiments as well as the next generation of miniaturized particle accelerators.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Plasmonics in argentene

Merging concepts from the fields of ab initio materials science and nanophotonics, there is now an opportunity to engineer new photonic materials whose optical, transport, and scattering properties are tailored to attain thermodynamic and quantum limits. Here we present first-principles calculations predicting that Argentene, a single-crystalline hexagonal close-packed monolayer of Ag, can dramatically surpass the optical properties and electrical conductivity of conventional plasmonic materials. In the low-frequency limit, we show that the scattering rate and resistivity reduce by a factor of 3 compared to the bulk three-dimensional metal. Most importantly, the low scattering rate extends to optical frequencies in sharp contrast to, e.g., graphene, whose scattering rate increase drastically in the near-infrared range due to optical-phonon scattering. Combined with an intrinsically high carrier density, this facilitates highly confined surface plasmons extending to visible frequencies. We evaluate Argentene across three distinct figures of merit, in each outperforming the state-of-the-art, making it a valuable addition to the two-dimensional heterostructure toolkit for quantum optoelectronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Transparent conducting oxides: from all-dielectric plasmonics to a new paradigm in integrated photonics

During the past few years, the optics and photonics communities have renewed their attention toward transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), which for over two decades have been broadly employed for the fabrication of transparent electrodes in photovoltaic and communication technologies. This reinvigorated research curiosity is twofold: on the one hand, TCOs, with their metal-like properties, low optical absorption, and fabrication flexibility, represent an appealing alternative to noble metals for designing ultra-compact plasmonic devices. On the other hand, this class of hybrid compounds has been proved to possess exceptionally high optical nonlinearities when operating on a frequency window centered around their crossover point, the wavelength point at which the real part of the dielectric permittivity switches sign. Because TCOs are wide-bandgap materials with the Fermi level located in the conduction band, they are hybrid in nature, thus presenting both interband and intraband nonlinearities. This is the cause of a very rich nonlinear physics that is yet to be fully understood and explored. In addition to this, TCOs are epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials within a broad near-infrared spectral range, including the entire telecom bandwidth. In this operational window a myriad of novel electromagnetic phenomena have been demonstrated experimentally such as supercoupling, wavefront freezing, and photon doping. Furthermore, TCOs stand out among all other ENZ systems due to one fundamental characteristic, which is hardly attainable even by using structured materials. In fact, around their ENZ wavelength and for a quite generous operational range, these materials can be engineered to have an extremely small real index. This peculiarity leads to a slow-light effect that is ultimately responsible for a significant enhancement of the material nonlinear properties and is the cornerstone of the emerging field of near-zero-index photonics. In this regard, the recent history of nonlinear optics in conductive oxides is growing extremely fast due to a great number of experiments reporting unprecedentedly remarkable effects, including unitary index change, bandwidth-large frequency shift, efficient ultra-low-power frequency conversion, and many others. This review is meant to guide the reader through the exciting journey of TCOs, starting as an industrial material for transparent electrodes, then becoming a new alternative for low-loss plasmonics, and recently opening up new frontiers in integrated nonlinear optics. The present review is mainly focused on experimental observations.

42 ENGINEERING↗