%A Matthew Kofke
%T Fabrication, Characterization, and Chemical Modification of Plasmonic Devices
%X Metallic structures with feature sizes on the order of the wavelength of light show numerous optical phenomena which have been attributed to excitation of surface plasmons upon the structures.  The ability to prepare and characterize metallic nanostructures has resulted in a host of novel applications ranging from biosensing to optoelectronics, both for devices integrated on chips and small nanoparticles in solution.   In order to fully realize the potential of such plasmonic devices a better understanding of the fundamental physical processes responsible for the observed phenomena is essential.  This dissertation explores the underlying process of the extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) mechanism in nanoaperture array plasmonic devices.  The first part of this work explores how surface plasmon polaritons influence the EOT in two dimensional annular aperture arrays.  This study is followed by an analysis of the geometrical factors of the nanoaperture in the array and how they impact the observed transmission.  From these data, the role of localized surface plasmons, which are supported by the central disk of the annular aperture, are found to have significant effects on the device performance.  These findings were demonstrated further by designing devices composed of a nanoparticle nested in a nanoslit in which the only mechanism for observed EOT is through localized plasmon resonances on the nanoparticles.  Lastly, a novel method for conducting seedless anisotropic synthesis upon both Au nanoapertures and substrate bound Au nanoparticles is described, and control of the resultant nanostructures through alteration of either the surface chemistry or the growth solution conditions is demonstrated.   The topics covered here should enable a deeper understanding of EOT in nanoaperture arrays as well as establish new pathways for making plasmonic devices.
%D 2013
%K Plasmon, Photonics, Nanoaperture Arrays, Anisotropic Nanoparticle Synthesis, Extraordinary Optical Transmission
%I University of Pittsburgh
%L pittir13607