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Yttrium hydride nanoantennas for active plasmonics
Nikolai Strohfeldt1, Andreas Tittl, Martin Schäferling
14th Physics Institute and Research Center SCoPE, University of Stuttgart , Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
Nano Letters
|March 1, 2014
Summary
Researchers developed switchable yttrium nanorod antennas that can be turned on and off using hydrogen. This breakthrough enables tunable plasmonic properties for advanced active plasmonic devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Optics
Background:
- Developing active plasmonic nanodevices requires materials with controllable plasmonic properties.
- Current materials often lack the necessary tunability for advanced applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a novel method for controlling plasmonic resonance in yttrium nanostructures.
- To explore the potential of yttrium nanorods as building blocks for active plasmonic devices.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of yttrium nanorod arrays using top-down nanofabrication.
- Optical characterization of hydrogen-induced phase transitions using extinction spectroscopy.
- Development of an analytical diffusion model to analyze hydrogen loading/unloading dynamics.
Main Results:
- Yttrium nanorods exhibit a reversible on/off switching of plasmonic resonance via hydrogen exposure.
- The transition between metallic yttrium dihydride and insulating yttrium trihydride phases controls plasmonic behavior.
- Plasmonic resonance in the dihydride state is tunable by nanostructure size.
Conclusions:
- Yttrium nanorods offer a versatile platform for active plasmonic devices.
- The hydrogen-induced phase transition provides a mechanism for complete and reversible control of plasmonic properties.
- This system is suitable for applications like switchable perfect absorbers and active thermal control.
