Controlling the transmission at the surface plasmon resonance of nanocomposite films using photonic structures

The transmission of nanocomposite thin films formed by Cu nanocrystals embedded in an amorphous aluminum oxide (Al2O3) matrix has been enhanced in the vicinity of the surface plasmon resonance wavelength, by the design of one-dimensional photonic structures. The nanocrystals are distributed in layers, whose separation and periodicity are used to control the optical response of the films. It is found that at the SPR a transmission enhancement up to 36% can be achieved with respect to a film with an homogeneous distribution of the nanocrystals. These photonic structures have been successfully produced by pulsed laser deposition.

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