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Updated: Jul 4, 2025
07:39
Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons
Published on: July 21, 2018
6.8K
Plasmon- and Waveguide-Coupled Fluorescence at the Ultraviolet Region
Ramachandram Badugu1, Joseph R Lakowicz1
1Center for Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. C, Nanomaterials and Interfaces
|January 26, 2024
Summary
We demonstrate how aluminum-based plasmon-coupled waveguides enhance 2-aminopurine fluorescence. This allows for selective detection of surface-bound and bulk fluorophores using surface plasmon-coupled emission and waveguide-coupled emission.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics
- Optoelectronics
- Biosensing
Background:
- Surface plasmon-coupled emission (SPCE) enhances P-polarized radiation via fluorophore interaction with surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on metal films.
- SPP-assisted directional fluorescence has applications in biosensing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate 2-aminopurine (2AP) emission coupling to modes in aluminum-based plasmon-coupled waveguides (Al-PCWs).
- To investigate the potential for selective detection of surface-bound and bulk fluorophores.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 2-aminopurine (2AP) as a UV-absorbing/emitting fluorophore.
- Fabricated aluminum-based plasmon-coupled waveguides (Al-PCWs).
- Analyzed P- and S-polarized emission characteristics, including coupling angles, efficiencies, and polarization.
Main Results:
- Observed directional P-polarized SPCE and P- or S-polarized waveguide-coupled emission (WGCE) from 2AP on Al-PCWs.
- S-polarized WGCE showed clearer angular resolution than P-polarized SPCE/WGCE.
- Coupling parameters were sensitive to the dielectric layer's optical properties and dimensions.
- Structures with probes on top of the silica layer exhibited higher angular resolution and coupling efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Al-PCWs enable directional emission and enhanced fluorescence.
- The system allows for simultaneous selective detection of surface-bound and bulk fluorophores.
- Effective plasmon-coupled waveguides can be designed using different dielectric configurations.
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