THURSDAY, 28 APRIL 2011
The phenomenon of plasmonics has generally been studied in nanostructures at the interfaces between a noble metal and a dialectric. A plasmon is a density wave of electrons, created under certain conditions when light hits a surface. By directing an electromagnetic field at the interface between gold and glass for instance, electronic surface waves can be created that resonate across the surface like ripples on a pond. When the oscillation frequency between the plasmons in this wave and the incident photons matches, localised surface plasmon resonance can be achieved.While this process was thought to require a metal nanostructure, in which conduction electrons were not strongly bound to individual atoms, scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have expanded the range of plasmonic materials to include semiconductors by demonstrating LSPR in copper sulphide doped quantum dots [1].
By controlling the concentration of free charge carriers in a semiconductor, the frequency and intensity of LSPRs can be dynamically tuned. The researchers envisage their quantum dot plasmonics being used in quantum communication and computation devises that could send information at nearly the speed of light [2].
Written by Robert Jones
![](mailto:?subject=Plasmonic resonances in semiconductors&body=https://bluesci.soc.srcf.net/posts/plasmonic-resonances-in-semiconductors <a href="https://bluesci.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/stained-glasas.jpg"></a><a href="https://bluesci.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/stained-glasas.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3235" title="Plasmon resonance in stained glass. Notre Dame. Photo by R Jones" src="https://bluesci.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/stained-glasas-256x300.jpg" alt="" width="256" height="300" /></a>The phenomenon of plasmonics has generally been studied in nanostructures at the interfaces between a noble metal and a dialectric. A plasmon is a density wave of electrons, created under certain conditions when light hits a surface. By directing an electromagnetic field at the interface between gold and glass for instance, electronic surface waves can be created that resonate across the surface like ripples on a pond. When the oscillation frequency between the plasmons in this wave and the incident photons matches, localised surface plasmon resonance can be achieved.<br><br>While this process was thought to require a metal nanostructure, in which conduction electrons were not strongly bound to individual atoms, scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have expanded the range of plasmonic materials to include semiconductors by demonstrating LSPR in copper sulphide doped quantum dots <a href='https://www.google.com/search?q=Luther, J.L., Jain, P.K., Ewers, T &amp; Alivisatos, A.P. (2011) Localized surface plasmon resonances arising from free carriers in doped quantum dots. <em>Nature Materials</em>. DOI: 10.1038/nmat300' title='Luther, J.L., Jain, P.K., Ewers, T & Alivisatos, A.P. (2011) Localized surface plasmon resonances arising from free carriers in doped quantum dots. <em>Nature Materials</em>. DOI: 10.1038/nmat300' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'><sup>[1]</sup></a>.<br><br>By controlling the concentration of free charge carriers in a semiconductor, the frequency and intensity of LSPRs can be dynamically tuned. The researchers envisage their quantum dot plasmonics being used in quantum communication and computation devises that could send information at nearly the speed of light <a href='http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110418135533.htm' title='http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110418135533.htm' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'><sup>[2]</sup></a>.<br><br>Written by Robert Jones<p><hr></p><h3>References:</h3><ol><li><a href='https://www.google.com/search?q=Luther, J.L., Jain, P.K., Ewers, T &amp; Alivisatos, A.P. (2011) Localized surface plasmon resonances arising from free carriers in doped quantum dots. <em>Nature Materials</em>. DOI: 10.1038/nmat300' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'>Luther, J.L., Jain, P.K., Ewers, T & Alivisatos, A.P. (2011) Localized surface plasmon resonances arising from free carriers in doped quantum dots. <em>Nature Materials</em>. DOI: 10.1038/nmat300</a></li><li><a href='http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110418135533.htm' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'>http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110418135533.htm</a></li></ol>){kind=link}