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Design, Fabrication, and Experimental Characterization of Plasmonic Photoconductive Terahertz Emitters
Published on: July 8, 2013
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Bismuth Plasmonic Antennas
Michael Foltýn1, Tomáš Šikola1,2, Michal Horák1
1Brno University of Technology, Central European Institute of Technology, Purkyňova 123, Brno 612 00, Czech Republic.
ACS Nano
|September 1, 2025
Summary
Bismuth antennas show tunable plasmon resonances across visible and near-infrared spectra, correlating antenna size and shape with optical properties. This positions bismuth as a cost-effective alternative to gold for plasmonic applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Optics
Background:
- Plasmonic materials enable light manipulation at the nanoscale.
- Gold is a common plasmonic metal but is expensive.
- Bismuth offers theoretical advantages in spectral bandwidth for plasmonics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate the relationship between bismuth plasmonic antenna geometry and optical properties.
- To assess bismuth as a viable, low-cost alternative to gold for plasmonic devices.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of bar-shaped and bowtie bismuth antennas using focused ion beam lithography.
- Characterization of antenna structure and optical properties via scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- Bismuth antennas support localized surface plasmon resonances.
- Antenna dipole modes are tunable from the near-infrared to the visible spectrum by altering antenna size.
- Bismuth exhibits a plasmon dispersion relation similar to gold, maintaining performance at higher energies.
Conclusions:
- Experimental validation of bismuth's tunable plasmonic properties based on antenna design.
- Bismuth demonstrates comparable plasmonic performance to gold, especially at higher energies.
- Bismuth is a promising, cost-effective material for advanced plasmonic applications.
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