Nanoplasmonic surfaces enabling strong surface-normal electric field enhancement

Conventional two-dimensional (2D) plasmonic arrays provide electric field intensity enhancement in the plane, typically with a surface coverage around 50% in the plan-view. Here, we show nanoplasmonic three-dimensional (3D) surfaces with 100% surface coverage enabling strong surface-normal field enhancement. Experimental measurements are found to agree well with the full electromagnetic solution. Along with the surface-normal localization when using the plasmonic 3D-surface, observed maximum field enhancement is 7.2-fold stronger in the 3D-surface than that of the 2D counterpart structure. 3D-plasmonic nonplanar surfaces provide the ability to generate volumetric field enhancement, possibly useful for enhanced plasmonic coupling and interactions. © 2013 Optical Society of America.