All-optical control of a single plasmonic nanoantenna-ITO hybrid

Nano Lett. 2011 Jun 8;11(6):2457-63. doi: 10.1021/nl200901w. Epub 2011 May 4.

Abstract

We demonstrate experimentally picosecond all-optical control of a single plasmonic nanoantenna embedded in indium tin oxide (ITO). We identify a picosecond response of the antenna-ITO hybrid system, which is distinctly different from transient bleaching observed for gold antennas on a nonconducting SiO(2) substrate. Our experimental results can be explained by the large free-carrier nonlinearity of ITO, which is enhanced by plasmon-induced hot-electron injection from the gold nanoantenna into the conductive oxide. The combination of tunable antenna-ITO hybrids with nanoscale plasmonic energy transfer mechanisms, as demonstrated here, opens a path for new ultrafast devices to produce nanoplasmonic switching and control.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry
  • Surface Properties
  • Tin Compounds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Tin Compounds
  • indium tin oxide
  • Gold
  • Silicon Dioxide