We experimentally demonstrate that gain materials properly encapsulated into the shell surrounding metal nanoparticles (NPs) are responsible for the modification of the overall plasmon response of engineered nanostructures. A comparison between designed systems based on functionalized core-shell NPs having different encapsulated dye molecules is presented. Experimental observations of Rayleigh scattering enhancement, accompanied by an increase of transmission as a function of gain, reveal striking optical loss compensation effects. Fluorescence lifetime measurements demonstrate a quenching of dye photoluminescence in functionalized core-shell NP samples with respect to pure dye solutions, confirming the strong resonant coupling occurring between the gain medium and gold NPs. Experimental evidence of a selective modification of the gain functionalized core-shell Au NP extinction curve is found, in good agreement with the results of a simplified theoretical model. The model verifies the causality principle through Kramers-Kronig dispersion relations for the investigated gain functionalized plasmonic nanostructure.

Gain Functionalized Core-Shell Nanoparticles: the Way to Selectively Compensate Absorptive Losses

DE LUCA, Antonio;LA DEDA, Massimo;SCARAMUZZA, Nicola;STRANGI, Giuseppe
2012-01-01

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate that gain materials properly encapsulated into the shell surrounding metal nanoparticles (NPs) are responsible for the modification of the overall plasmon response of engineered nanostructures. A comparison between designed systems based on functionalized core-shell NPs having different encapsulated dye molecules is presented. Experimental observations of Rayleigh scattering enhancement, accompanied by an increase of transmission as a function of gain, reveal striking optical loss compensation effects. Fluorescence lifetime measurements demonstrate a quenching of dye photoluminescence in functionalized core-shell NP samples with respect to pure dye solutions, confirming the strong resonant coupling occurring between the gain medium and gold NPs. Experimental evidence of a selective modification of the gain functionalized core-shell Au NP extinction curve is found, in good agreement with the results of a simplified theoretical model. The model verifies the causality principle through Kramers-Kronig dispersion relations for the investigated gain functionalized plasmonic nanostructure.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11770/136912
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