Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons
Published on: July 21, 2018
Interaction of an infrared surface plasmon with an excited molecular vibration
Kenneth R Rodriguez1, Hong Tian, Joseph M Heer
1Department of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-1173, USA.
Abstract:
The interaction of an infrared surface plasmon and an excited molecular vibration was investigated by using a square array of subwavelength holes in a Ni film which supports propagating, surface-plasmon-mediated, transmission resonances. The largest transmission resonance [the (1,0)(-)] was tuned through the rocking vibration of the hexadecane molecule (at 721 cm(-1)) in a hexadecane film on the mesh by varying the thickness of the film. The interaction of the rocking vibration and surface plasmon is characterized spectroscopically by an increase in the intensity of the vibrational band by more than a factor of 2, variation of the vibrational line shape relative to the spectrum on a nonmetallic surface, and shifts in vibrational peak position by as much as 3.0 cm(-1). Relationships are developed between the transmission resonance position and the thickness and dielectric properties of the coating.
Related Concept Videos
IR Spectroscopy: Molecular Vibration Overview
Stretching vibrations are vibrational motions that occur along the bond line, changing the bond length or distance between two bonded atoms. They are further distinguished as symmetric or asymmetric. In symmetric stretching, the...
Molecular Spectroscopy: Absorption and Emission
Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...
IR Spectroscopy: Hooke's Law Approximation of Molecular Vibration
According to Hooke's law, the vibrational frequency is directly proportional to the...
IR Spectrum Peak Intensity: Amount of IR-Active Bonds
IR Absorption Frequency: Hybridization
Among the sp, sp2, and sp3 hybridized orbitals, sp orbitals have the maximum s character (50%). Consequently, the electrons are held more closely to the nucleus, resulting in stronger and shorter C–H bonds that stretch at a...
