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Charge Transfer Plasmonics in Bespoke Graphene/α-RuCl3 Cavities
Rocco A Vitalone1, Bjarke S Jessen1, Ran Jing2
1Department of Physics, Columbia University, 1150 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, New York 10027, United States.
ACS Nano
|October 18, 2024
Summary
We imaged terahertz surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in graphene/α-RuCl3 heterostructures using a cryogenic scanning near-field optical microscope. Bespoke graphene cavities allowed observation and quantification of SPPs in heavily doped graphene.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Nanophotonics
Background:
- Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) are crucial for understanding nano-optical and electrodynamic properties.
- Graphene/α-RuCl3 heterostructures offer a unique system for SPP studies due to charge transfer-induced doping.
Purpose of the Study:
- To image and quantify terahertz (THz) SPPs in graphene/α-RuCl3 heterostructures.
- To investigate the role of graphene cavity structures in SPP observation.
- To determine plasmonic properties and scattering rates in these 2D heterostructures.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of graphene/α-RuCl3 heterostructures with variable graphene cavity sizes.
- Utilizing a home-built cryogenic scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM).
- Employing phase-resolved imaging to observe THz SPPs.
Main Results:
- Clear observation of long-wavelength, heavily damped THz SPPs within graphene cavities.
- Extraction of plasmonic wavelength and electronic scattering rates.
- Experimental results align with theoretical predictions for graphene/α-RuCl3 heterostructures.
Conclusions:
- Graphene cavity structures enable the observation and quantification of SPPs in heavily doped graphene.
- These findings are largely inaccessible with other experimental techniques.
- The lack of metallicity in α-RuCl3 provides insights into interfacial charge transfer mechanisms.
