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Trapping of Micro Particles in Nanoplasmonic Optical Lattice
Published on: September 5, 2017
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Versatile on-chip plasmonic lattices enabled by Kekulé metasurfaces.
Jinguo Liu1,2, Yufan Luo1, Airong Zhao3
1College of Physics, Key Laboratory for Intelligent Nano Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China.
Nature Communications
|November 26, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a novel Kekulé metasurface to precisely control optical lattices formed by surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). This breakthrough enables new possibilities for secure optical communication and on-chip photonic devices.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Nanotechnology
- Optics and Optical Devices
Background:
- Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) carry optical information, crucial for secure optical communication.
- Controlling SPP lattice properties (intensity, spectral, spatial) is a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a versatile Kekulé metasurface for creating tailored optical SPP lattices.
- To demonstrate controllable spatial and intensity distributions of SPP lattices.
- To explore applications in on-chip light emission and secure imaging.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical and experimental development of Kekulé metasurfaces.
- Utilizing noninvasive leakage radiation microscopy to visualize SPP lattices.
- Superposing wing-shaped nanoslit sets to tailor lattice properties.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated localization of SPPs into assorted optical lattices using Kekulé metasurfaces.
- Successfully tailored spatial distribution and relative intensity of SPP lattice sites.
- Showcased configurable on-chip light-emitter arrays and secure imaging encryption/decryption.
Conclusions:
- Introduced a versatile Kekulé metasurface platform for generating well-defined SPP lattices.
- Highlighted multiple degrees of freedom for controlling SPP lattices, enabling rich physical phenomena.
- Paved the way for photonic elements with potential applications in existing technologies.
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