Print Email Facebook Twitter Plasmonic Au islands on polymer nanopillars Title Plasmonic Au islands on polymer nanopillars Author Knoben, W. Brongersma, S.H. Crego-Calama, M. Publication year 2011 Abstract The refractive index sensitivity of localized surface plasmon resonance sensors can be improved by placing the plasmonic metal particles on pillars instead of on a planar substrate. In this paper, a simple and versatile colloidal lithography method for the fabrication of plasmonic Au islands on top of polymer nanopillars is described. The pillar height is controlled by varying the thickness of the initial polymer film. An increased pillar height results in a blue shift of the absorption spectrum of the Au islands. This is explained by a decreased effective refractive index around the islands. For pillars higher than approximately 40nm no further blue shift is observed, in agreement with the decay length of the electromagnetic field around the islands. Pillar-supported Au islands were also fabricated on a flexible foil, demonstrating the potential of the method described here for the fabrication of flexible plasmonic substrates. Benefits and limitations of the method and of using polymers as the pillar material are discussed. © 2011 IOP Publishing Ltd. Subject Mechatronics, Mechanics & MaterialsHOL - HolstTS - Technical SciencesHigh Tech Systems & MaterialsNanotechnologyIndustrial InnovationAu islandsBlue shiftColloidal lithographyDecay lengthEffective refractive indexLocalized surface plasmon resonanceMetal particleNanopillarsPlanar substratePlasmonicRefractive index sensitivityAbsorption spectroscopyElectromagnetic fieldsFabricationLight refractionPlasmonsPolymer filmsRefractive indexRefractometersSubstratesSurface plasmon resonancePolymers To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:f4973296-8d6e-48f0-b4a4-9a6af4d8a04e DOI https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/22/29/295303 TNO identifier 461441 ISSN 0957-4484 Source Nanotechnology, 22 (29) Article number No.: 295303 Document type article Files To receive the publication files, please send an e-mail request to TNO Library.