Plasmonic Substrate with Periodic Recesses for Optical Tuning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current substrates for exciting surface plasmons and surface plasmon polaritons lack the ability to generate these phenomena in a predetermined manner, requiring specific structured surfaces coated with gold or silver and precise periodicities for optimal optical effects.

Innovation Solution

A substrate with a transparent carrier layer featuring a regular two-dimensional array of recesses coated with gold or silver, where the recesses are arranged in rows and columns with specific periodicities and dimensions, allowing for the generation of surface plasmons and surface plasmon polaritons through excitation radiation, and enabling near-field enhancement and band gap formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a structured surface with specific periodicities is used to generate surface plasmons, then the optical effects can be finely tuned, but the device complexity and manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical effects tuningVSAvoidsurface structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surface structure is segmented into discrete recesses arranged in a regular two-dimensional array, where each recess has specific dimensional parameters (length 100-2500 nm, width, and depth). This segmentation allows independent control of optical properties through parameter variation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure of periodically spaced recesses on a transparent carrier layer coated with reflective metal (gold or silver).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention enables fine tuning of optical effects by changing key parameters of the recesses including length (100-2500 nm range), width, depth, and the periodicity of their arrangement in rows and columns. By varying these parameters, different surface plasmon resonance conditions can be achieved for different excitation wavelengths, providing adaptability without requiring complex multi-layer structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If precise periodicities are required for optimal optical effects, then surface plasmon generation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface plasmon generationVSAvoidperiodicity precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The transparent carrier layer is prepared with a regular two-dimensional array of recesses before the reflective metal coating is applied. This preliminary structuring of the carrier layer establishes the periodicity pattern that will guide surface plasmon generation, allowing the metal coating to be deposited conformally without requiring subsequent complex patterning steps, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements for the metal layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent carrier layer acts as an intermediary structure that pre-establishes the periodic pattern through its recess array. This intermediary structure simplifies the overall manufacturing process by decoupling the periodicity definition (in the carrier layer) from the reflective coating application, allowing standard thin-film deposition techniques to be used without requiring ultra-precise patterning of the metal layer itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The substrate effectively generates surface plasmons and polaritons with enhanced near-field effects and reduced losses, facilitating applications in Raman spectroscopy, cell manipulation, and optical telecommunications by concentrating the local electrical field and reducing energy dissipation.

Implementation Method 1

excitation of plasmons requires a structured, diffractive surface that is coated with a thin layer of gold or silver

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface plasmon resonance:

Implementation Method 2

suitable for the excitation of surface plasmons and surface plasmon polaritons by means of an excitation radiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface plasmon polariton generation:

Implementation Method 3

concentrating the local electrical field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNear-field enhancement:

Implementation Method 4

excitation of plasmons requires a structured, diffractive surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Data Source

PatentEP2876431B1Substrate for the generation of surface plasmons and surface plasmon polaritons by means of an excitation radiation, method for the production of the substrate, and uses of the substrate

Publication Date: 2020.05.20 USSEMBAYEV YERZHAN

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AI summary

The invention is directed to a substrate for generating surface plasmons (SPs) and surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) by means of an excitation radiation, wherein the substrate (1) has a carrier layer (2) and a coating (3) with gold or silver. A surface of the carrier layer (2) is provided with identical surface structures arranged in an array of rows (5) and columns (6). The surface structures are recesses (4) with an elongate shape which are arranged with a first periodicity (PH) and with a second periodicity (PV) in direction of the rows (5) and orthogonal to the direction of the rows (5), respectively. The invention is further directed to a method for the production of the substrate (1) and to uses of the substrate (1).