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Updated: Jan 24, 2026
07:24
Visible-light Induced Reduction of Graphene Oxide Using Plasmonic Nanoparticle
Published on: September 22, 2015
14.8K
Single-Plasmon Thermo-Optical Switching in Graphene.
Joel D Cox1,2,3, F Javier García de Abajo1,4
1ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques , The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology , 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona , Spain.
Nano Letters
|May 24, 2019
Summary
Graphene nanostructures exhibit tunable plasmon resonances and large thermo-optical effects. A single plasmon
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Nanophotonics
Background:
- Noble metal nanostructures offer strong light-matter interactions but limited tunability due to excess electrons.
- Graphene's linear electronic dispersion provides high sensitivity to doping and a low electronic heat capacity, enabling tunable plasmon resonances and large thermo-optical responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of graphene nanostructures for all-optical switching applications.
- To demonstrate a single-plasmon blockade mechanism in graphene nanoislands.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing complementary classical and quantum-mechanical simulations.
- Analyzing the thermo-optical response of doped graphene nanoislands upon single plasmon absorption.
Main Results:
- A single absorbed plasmon can significantly alter graphene's electronic temperature and chemical potential.
- Unity-order optical modulation is achieved within subpicosecond timescales.
- The process effectively shifts or damps the plasmon absorption peak, blocking subsequent plasmon excitation.
Conclusions:
- The thermo-optical single-plasmon blockade is a viable ultralow power all-optical switching mechanism for graphene nanoislands.
- Integration with quantum emitters could enable applications in biological sensing and quantum nano-optics.
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