Abstract
We present a novel plasmonic antenna structure, a split-wedge antenna, created by splitting an ultrasharp metallic wedge with a nanogap perpendicular to its apex. The nanogap can tightly confine gap plasmons and boost the local optical field intensity in and around these opposing metallic wedge tips. This three-dimensional split-wedge antenna integrates the key features of nanogaps and sharp tips, i.e., tight field confinement and three-dimensional nanofocusing, respectively, into a single platform. We fabricate split-wedge antennas with gaps that are as small as 1 nm in width at the wafer scale by combining silicon V-grooves with template stripping and atomic layer lithography. Computer simulations show that the field enhancement and confinement are stronger at the tip–gap interface compared to what standalone tips or nanogaps produce, with electric field amplitude enhancement factors exceeding 50 when near-infrared light is focused on the tip–gap geometry. The resulting nanometric hotspot volume is on the order of λ3/106. Experimentally, Raman enhancement factors exceeding 107 are observed from a 2 nm gap split-wedge antenna, demonstrating its potential for sensing and spectroscopy applications. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000125039Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Nano LettersVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
American Chemical SocietySubject
Optical antenna; Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS); Template stripping; Gap plasmon; Atomic layer deposition; Atomic layer lithographyOrganisational unit
03875 - Norris, David J. / Norris, David J.
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