Broadband optical transparency in plasmonic nanocomposite polymer films via exciton-plasmon energy transfer
Date
2016Source Title
Optics Express
Print ISSN
10944087
Publisher
OSA - The Optical Society
Volume
24
Issue
13
Pages
14632 - 14641
Language
English
Type
ArticleItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
Inherent absorptive losses affect the performance of all plasmonic devices, limiting their fascinating applications in the visible range. Here, we report on the enhanced optical transparency obtained as a result of the broadband mitigation of optical losses in nanocomposite polymeric films, embedding core-shell quantum dots (CdSe@ZnS QDs) and gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs). Exciton-plasmon coupling enables non-radiative energy transfer processes from QDs to metal NPs, resulting in gain induced transparency of the hybrid flexible systems. Experimental evidences, such as fluorescence quenching and modifications of fluorescence lifetimes confirm the presence of this strong coupling between plexcitonic elements. Measures performed by means of an ultra-fast broadband pump-probe setup demonstrate loss compensation of gold NPs dispersed in plastic network in presence of gain. Furthermore, we compare two films containing different concentrations of gold NPs and same amount of QDs, to investigate the role of acceptor concentration (Au-NPs) in order to promote an effective and efficient energy transfer mechanism. Gain induced transparency in bulk systems represents a promising path towards the realization of loss compensated plasmonic devices. © 2016 Optical Society of America.
Keywords
Energy transferExcitons
Fluorescence
Gold
Gold alloys
Nanocomposite films
Nanocomposites
Plasmons
Quenching
Semiconductor quantum dots
Transparency
Zinc sulfide
Acceptor concentrations
Core-shell quantum dots
Efficient energy transfer
Experimental evidence
Fluorescence lifetimes
Fluorescence quenching
Nanocomposite polymers
Nonradiative energy transfer
Polymer films