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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 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

High-precision millimeter-wave frequency determination through plasmonic photomixing

We present a technique for high-precision millimeter-wave frequency determination through plasmonic photomixing. Our technique utilizes a plasmonic photomixer pumped by an optical frequency comb with a high-stability millimeter-wave beat frequency. The plasmonic photomixer down-converts the millimeter-wave signal to the radio frequency regime at which high-accuracy frequency counters are available. The precision of this technique is determined by the frequency stability of the optical beat frequency, which can be directly characterized in the presented experimental setup. We demonstrate frequency measurement precision as low as 3.9×10 −10 at 95 GHz through plasmonic photomixing without phase-locking the optical frequency comb.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Toward quantum plasmonic networks

Here, we demonstrate the transduction of macroscopic quantum entanglement by independent, distant plasmonic structures embedded in separate thin silver films. In particular, we show that the plasmon-mediated transmission through each film conserves spatially dependent, entangled quantum images, opening the door for the implementation of parallel quantum protocols, super-resolution imaging, and quantum plasmonic sensing geometries at the nanoscale level. The conservation of quantum information by the transduction process shows that continuous variable multi-mode entanglement is momentarily transferred from entangled beams of light to the space-like separated, completely independent plasmonic structures, thus providing a first important step toward establishing a multichannel quantum network across separate solid-state substrates.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

Active Control of Nitride Plasmonic Dispersion in the Far Infrared.

We investigate plasmonic structures in nitride-based materials for far-infrared (IR) applications. The two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in the GaN/AlGaN material system, much like metal- dielectric structures, is a patternable plasmonic medium. However, it also permits for direct tunability via an applied voltage. While there have been proof-of-principle demonstrations of plasma excitations in nitride 2DEGs, exploration of the potential of this material system has thus far been limited. We recently demonstrated coherent phenomena such as the formation of plasmonic crystals, strong coupling of tunable crystal defects to a plasmonic crystal, and electromagnetically induced transparency in GaAs/AlGaAs 2DEGs at sub-THz frequencies. In this project, we explore whether these effects can be realized in nitride 2DEG materials above 1 THz and at temperatures exceeding 77 K.

Shaner, Eric A.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Plasmonics-Enhanced Photocatalysis for Water Decontamination

We have successfully shown up to 5x enhancement in reaction rate of photocatalytic decomposition of an organic chemical (methyl orange) dissolved in water, by incorporating a layer of aluminum (Al) plasmonic nanostructures on top of a titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) thin film photocatalyst. The whole sample is immersed in the solution and illuminated with ultraviolet (UV) light. The plasmonics-induced electromagnetic field enhancement drastically increases photo-absorption and electron-hole pair generation at the catalyst surface, thereby enhancing the redox reactions at the catalyst-water interface that break the dissolved organics into non-toxic by-products such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Our results demonstrate that it is indeed feasible to use plasmonics to enhance photochemical reactions. With further optimized plasmonics design and improved fabrication methodology, simulation results suggest rate enhancement factor of over 20x is possible.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1974

Polarization of inverse plasmon scattering

The scattering of electrostatic plasma waves by a flux of ultrarelativistic electrons passing through a plasma gives rise to a radiation spectrum which is similar to a synchrotron radiation spectrum. This mechanism, first considered by Gailitis and Tsytovich, is analagous to inverse Compton scattering, and we have named it inverse plasmon scattering. For a power-law electron flux, both inverse plasmon scattering and synchrotron radiation have the same spectral index. In an attempt to distinguish between these mechanisms, we have calculated the polarization level expected from inverse plasmon scattering. The polarization level found is similar to that obtained from a synchrotron radiation source. This means that the radiation produced by two mechanisms, synchrotron radiation and inverse plasmon scattering, is indistinguishable; and this attempt to differentiate between them by polarization effects has been unsuccessful.

Windsor, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Nanoscale Surface Plasmonics Sensor With Nanofluidic Control

Conventional quantitative protein assays of bodily fluids typically involve multiple steps to obtain desired measurements. Such methods are not well suited for fast and accurate assay measurements in austere environments such as spaceflight and in the aftermath of disasters. Consequently, there is a need for a protein assay technology capable of routinely monitoring proteins in austere environments. For example, there is an immediate need for a urine protein assay to assess astronaut renal health during spaceflight. The disclosed nanoscale surface plasmonics sensor provides a core detection method that can be integrated to a lab-on-chip device that satisfies the unmet need for such a protein assay technology. Assays based upon combinations of nanoholes, nanorings, and nanoslits with transmission surface plasmon resonance (SPR) are used for assays requiring extreme sensitivity, and are capable of detecting specific analytes at concentrations as low as picomole to femtomole level in well-controlled environments. The device operates in a transmission mode configuration in which light is directed at one planar surface of the array, which functions as an optical aperture. The incident light induces surface plasmon light transmission from the opposite surface of the array. The presence of a target analyte is detected by changes in the spectrum of light transmitted by the array when a target analyte induces a change in the refractive index of the fluid within the nanochannels. This occurs, for example, when a target analyte binds to a receptor fixed to the walls of the nanochannels in the array. Independent fluid handling capability for individual nanoarrays on a nanofluidic chip containing a plurality of nanochannel arrays allows each array to be used to sense a different target analyte and/or for paired arrays to analyze control and test samples simultaneously in parallel. The present invention incorporates transmission mode nanoplasmonics and nanofluidics into a single, microfluidically controlled device. The device comprises one or more arrays of aligned nanochannels that are in fluid communication with inflowing and outflowing fluid handling manifolds that control the flow of fluid through the arrays. The array acts as an aperture in a plasmonic sensor. Fluid, in the form of a liquid or a gas and comprising a sample for analysis, is moved from an inlet manifold through the nanochannel array, and out through an exit manifold. The fluid may also contain a reagent used to modify the interior surfaces of the nanochannels, and/or a reagent required for the detection of an analyte.

Wei, Jianjun↗
DOE OSTI2016

Two-path plasmonic interferometer with integrated detector

An electrically tunable terahertz two-path plasmonic interferometer with an integrated detection element can down convert a terahertz field to a rectified DC signal. The integrated detector utilizes a resonant plasmonic homodyne mixing mechanism that measures the component of the plasma waves in-phase with an excitation field that functions as the local oscillator in the mixer. The plasmonic interferometer comprises two independently tuned electrical paths. The plasmonic interferometer enables a spectrometer-on-a-chip where the tuning of electrical path length plays an analogous role to that of physical path length in macroscopic Fourier transform interferometers.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2017

Plasmon-assisted optical vias for photonic ASICS

The present invention relates to optical vias to optically connect multilevel optical circuits. In one example, the optical via includes a surface plasmon polariton waveguide, and a first optical waveguide formed on a first substrate is coupled to a second optical waveguide formed on a second substrate by the surface plasmon polariton waveguide. In some embodiments, the first optical waveguide includes a transition region configured to convert light from an optical mode to a surface plasmon polariton mode or from a surface plasmon polariton mode to an optical mode.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Mapping VIS-terahertz (=17 THz) surface plasmons sustained on native and chemically functionalized percolated gold thin films using EELS

Heterogeneous assemblies of molecules (Rhodamine B) adsorbed onto a nano-corrugated metallic surface (a percolated Au network) are investigated using electron energy loss spectroscopy in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM-EELS). Our first measurements target the native metallic substrate, which consists of a commercial Au thin film atop an ultrathin carbon membrane. The Au film displays a percolated morphology with nanostructures of estimated thickness = 10nm approximately. We observe a rich plasmonic response from the metallic substrate; one which varies nanometrically and spans the VISterahertz region. Multiple localized plasmons are detected at individual nanometric integrated areas, while the spatial distribution of the fields reveal that LSPRs within the same integrated energy window (of 50meV) are supported at different locations simultaneously. We record subsequent EEL spectrum images of the hybrid molecular-metallic construct after deposition of Rhodamine B molecules onto the substrate, where plasmons, molecular vibrations and electronic excitations might all be simultaneously detected. A comparison of average signals for both systems is performed and spectral variations within the three spectral regions where molecular signatures may be observed are discussed. Our measurements and their analysis if applied to the same location before and after molecular deposit, may be used to rationalize optical microscopic and spectroscopic measurements that take advantage of the interplay between molecules and plasmons.

Abellan, Patricia↗
DOE OSTI2019

Patterning Si at the 1 nm Length Scale with Aberration-Corrected Electron-Beam Lithography: Tuning of Plasmonic Properties by Design

Patterning of materials at single nanometer resolution allows engineering of quantum confinement effects, as these effects are significant at these length scales, and yields direct control over electro-optical properties. Silicon is by far the most important material in electronics, and the ability to fabricate Si-based devices of the smallest dimensions for novel device engineering is highly desirable. Here, the work presented here uses aberration-corrected electron-beam lithography combined with dry reactive ion etching to achieve both: patterning of 1-nm features and surface and volume plasmon engineering in Si. The nanofabrication technique employed here produces nanowires with a line edge roughness (LER) of 1 nm (3σ). In addition, this work demonstrates tuning of the Si volume plasmon energy by 1.2 eV from the bulk value, which is one order of magnitude higher than previous attempts of volume plasmon engineering using lithographic methods.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Photoluminescence Enhancement of CuInS 2 Quantum Dots in Solution Coupled to Plasmonic Gold Nanocup Array

A strong plasmonic enhancement of photoluminescence (PL) decay rate in quantum dots (QDs) coupled to an array of gold-coated nanocups is demonstrated. CuInS2 QDs that emit at a wavelength that overlaps with the extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) of the gold nanocup array are placed in the cups as solutions. Time-resolved PL reveals that the decay rate of the QDs in the plasmonically coupled system can be enhanced by more than an order of magnitude. Using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations, it is shown that this enhancement in PL decay rate results from an enhancement factor of ≈100 in electric field intensity provided by the plasmonic mode of the nanocup array, which is also responsible for the EOT. The simulated Purcell factor approaches 86 at the bottom of the nanocup and is ≈3–15 averaged over the nanocup cavity height, agreeing with the experimental enhancement result. In conclusion, this demonstration of solution-based coupling between QDs and gold nanocups opens up new possibilities for applications that would benefit from a solution environment such as biosensing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Annealing-Driven Phase Control Enables Plasmonic Tunability in Alloy Nanoparticles

A critical aspect of designing and realizing useful solid state materials is controlling phase and structure to tailor physical properties. While common for semiconductor and quantum materials, plasmonic materials have inhabited a narrow phase space typically comprising one or two elements, e.g., face-centered cubic metals. While this simplicity has enabled robust use and understanding of Au and Ag nanoparticles, it has also limited the design and manipulation of solid state properties. Here, we show that by tuning the phase and elemental composition of binary Au−Sn nanoparticles, the steady-state absorbance and ultrafast thermalization properties of plasmonic nanoparticles can be controlled. Solid state characterization suggests this is due to the dealloying of Sn and destabilization of the AuSn phase, leading to higher quality Au 5 Sn intermetallic phases alongside Au. Consequently, this work shows that phase control can profoundly influence the properties of plasmonic nanoparticles, providing important tunability for applications in catalysis, photothermal heating, and sensing.

Gold↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ultrafast Dynamics of Plasmon-Coupled Excitons in Semiconducting Nanoplatelets

Exciton-plasmon coupling in nanomaterials produces many relevant phenomena for photonics applications including increased light-matter interactions, enhanced radiative rates of quantum emitters, and coherent energy exchange. In the case of exciton coupling to surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), dispersive interactions controlled by the wavevector of optical excitation create the opportunity for tunable optical emission. Strong temporal impacts on exciton lifetimes can also occur in coupled systems, creating the opportunity for ultrafast control of exciton lifetime via changes in electronic coupling magnitude to a dispersive SPP. The coupling strength can be impacted by the morphology of the nanomaterials. Here, in this study, we utilize colloidal semiconductor nanoplatelets deposited onto thin silver plasmonic films, and compare the results to semiconductor quantum dots deposited on the silver films. We map the dispersion of the coupled systems and measure the ultrafast transient absorption response of the coupled systems. Due to the larger interaction areas of the nanoplatelets that lie flat on the silver films, a greater degree of coupling is found for the nanoplatelets, and much faster temporal responses are found as compared to quantum dots. Fresnel theory calculations that incorporate heavy and light hole features can reproduce the dispersion of the nanoplatelet-silver film, and a simple three-state model is developed to provide insights into the nature of the coupling at different photon energies along the dispersion curve.

colloidal semiconductor nanoplatelets↗
DOE OSTI2021

Multimodal Tip-Enhanced Nonlinear Optical Nanoimaging of Plasmonic Silver Nanocubes

Optical field localization at plasmonic tip-sample nanojunctions has enabled high spatial resolution chemical analysis through tip-enhanced linear optical spectroscopies, including Raman scattering and photoluminescence. In this work, we illustrate that nonlinear optical processes, including parametric four-wave mixing (4WM), second harmonic/sum-frequency generation (SHG and SFG), and two-photon photoluminescence (TPPL), can be enhanced at plasmonic junctions and spatio-spectrally resolved simultaneously with few-nm spatial resolution under ambient conditions. More importantly, through a detailed analysis of our spectral nano-images, we find that the efficiencies of the local nonlinear signals are determined by sharp tip-sample junction resonances that vary over the few-nanometer length scale because of the corrugated nature of the probe. Namely, plasmon resonances centered at or around the different nonlinear signals are tracked through TPPL, and they are found to selectively enhance nonlinear signals with closely matched optical resonances.

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

Exploring Plasmonic Photocatalysis via Single-Molecule Reaction Imaging

Plasmonic photocatalysis has emerged as a new frontier in heterogeneous catalysis due to its promise in harvesting light to drive reactions. Yet many mechanistic aspects remain to be unambiguously defined. Using single-molecule fluorescence imaging, Li et al. studied a fluorogenic and plasmon-enhanced reaction, amplex red oxidation, on single Au nanorods at subturnover resolution and under operando conditions. Both the rate-determining step and its activation energy were identified from the multiple elemental reactions. Here, the results provide insights into the mechanism of plasmonic photocatalysis that may help the rational design of heterogeneous catalysts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Circular Dichroism in Off-Resonantly Coupled Plasmonic Nanosystems

Chiral plasmonic systems have been observed to exhibit large chiroptical responses, much larger than those found in molecular or solid state systems. Here, we investigate the role of resonant coupling in such systems and whether the formation of collective plasmonic modes in a chiral assembly of metallic nanostructures is a necessary condition for chiroptical response. We show in experiment and simulation that off-resonant coupling between spectrally detuned nanostructures arranged with structural chirality leads to a clear but weak chiroptical response. We interpret our results in the framework of scattering between the individual constituents that in turn leads to a chiroptical farfield response. We envision that our results will allow further tuning and manipulation of chiroptical responses in plasmonic systems for tailored chiral light matter interaction.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Plasmon-Assisted Direct Interfacial Charge Transfer Enables Molecular Photodissociation on Metal Surfaces

Plasmonic photocatalysis is promising for driving reactions out of equilibrium, leading to enhanced rates and selectivity, but the energy and charge transfer mechanism at the interface remains to be explored. Here, we revisit visible-light plasmon-assisted photodissociation of dimethyl disulfide molecules (S–S bond cleavage) over single-crystalline silver and copper surfaces, using density functional theory calculations and the delta self-consistent field method. We investigate different excitation mechanisms and show that the direct intramolecular excitations, as suggested earlier to explain the experimental findings, cannot address the observed catalytic bond activation. Instead, the calculated excitations mediated by the metal Fermi level agree well with the threshold energy and maximum-yield energy in experiments and suggest that the reaction follows a direct interfacial charge transfer mechanism. Furthermore, we show that the excitation energy and the charge transfer can be modulated by introducing excess charges in the systems. Here, this study thus provides a fundamental understanding of interfacial charge transfer for driving plasmonic photocatalysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗