Polarimetric response of magnetodielectric core-shell nanoparticles: an analysis of scattering directionality and sensing

Multi-Cavity Nanorefractive Index Sensor Based on MIM Waveguide

Within this manuscript, we provide a novel Fano resonance-driven micro-nanosensor. Its primary structural components are a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide, a shield with three disks, and a T-shaped cavity (STDTC). The finite element approach was used to study the gadget in theory. It is found that the adjustment of the structure and the change of the dimensions are closely related to the sensitivity (S) and the quality factor (FOM). Different model structural parameters affect the Fano resonance, which in turn changes the transmission characteristics of the resonator. Through in-depth experimental analysis and selection of appropriate parameters, the sensor sensitivity finally reaches 3020 nm/RIU and the quality factor reaches 51.89. Furthermore, the installation of this microrefractive index sensor allows for the quick and sensitive measurement of glucose levels. It is a positive contribution to the field of optical devices and micro-nano sensors and meets the demand for efficient detection when applied in medical and environmental scenarios.

Streamlines of the Poynting Vector and Chirality Flux around a Plasmonic Bowtie Nanoantenna

The streamlines of the energy flux (Poynting vectors) and chirality flux as well as the intensity of the electric field around various plasmonic nanostructures (nanocube, nanocuboid, nanotriangle, hexagonal nanoplate and bowtie nanoantenna) induced by a circularly polarized (CP) or linearly polarized (LP) light were studied theoretically. The boundary element method combined with the method of moment was used to solve a set of surface integral equations, based on the Stratton-Chu formulation, for analyzing the highly distorted electromagnetic (EM) field in the proximity of these nanostructures. We discovered that the winding behavior of these streamlines exhibits versatility for various modes of the surface plasmon resonance of different nanostructures. Recently, using plasmonic nanostructures to facilitate a photochemical reaction has gained significant attention, where the hot carriers (electrons) play important roles. Our findings reveal a connection between the flow pattern of energy flux and the morphology of the photochemical deposition around various plasmonic nanostructures irradiated by a CP light. For example, numerical results exhibit vertically helical streamlines of the Poynting vector around an Au nanocube and transversely twisted-roll streamlines around a nanocuboid. Additionally, the behaviors of the winding energy and chirality fluxes at the gap and corners of a plasmonic bowtie nanoantenna, implying a highly twisted EM field, depend on the polarization of the incident LP light. Our analysis of the streamlines of the Poynting vector and chirality flux offers an insight into the formation of plasmon-enhanced photocatalysis.

Mantle cloaking due to ideal magnetic dipole scattering

One of the most exciting applications of metaparticles and metasurfaces consists in the magnetic light excitation. However, the principal limitation is due to parasitic extra multipoles of electric family excited in magnetic dipole meta-particles characterized by a radiating nature and corresponding radiating losses. In this paper, we propose the “ideal magnetic dipole” with suppressed additional multipoles except of magnetic dipole moment in the scattered field from a cylindrical object by using mantle cloaking based on metasurface and on anapole concept. The considered metasurface consists of a periodic width modulated microstrip line, with a sinusoidally shaped profile unit cell printed on a dielectric substrate.

Anisotropic light scattering by prismatic semiconductor nanowires

Anisotropic transverse light scattering by prismatic nanowires is a natural outcome of their geometry. In this work, we perform numerical calculations of the light scattering characteristics for nanowires in the optical and near-infrared range and explore the possibility of tuning the directivity by changing the angle of light incidence. The scattering cross section and the directivity of the scattered light when it is incident perpendicular to a facet or to an edge of the prism are investigated both with transverse electric and with transverse magnetic polarizations. The phenomenology includes Mie resonances and guided modes yielding together rich and complex spectra. We consider nanowires with hexagonal, square and triangular cross sections. The modes that are most sensitive to the incidence angle are the hexapole for the hexagonal case and the quadrupole for the square case. Higher order modes are also sensitive, but mostly for the square geometry. Our results indicate the possibility of a flexible in-situ tunability of the directivity simply by rotating the nanowire profile relatively to the direction of the incident light which could offer potential advantages in applications such as switching or sensing.

Analysis of the Substrate Effect on the Zero-Backward Scattering Condition of a Cu₂O Nanoparticle under Non-Normal Illumination

The presence of a substrate is one of the most important limitations of the real application of the directional conditions. These conditions allow the control of the spatial distribution of light scattering of nanoparticles. While the zero-forward condition is quite sensitive to any change of the surrounding medium, like the substrate, the zero-backward scattering seems to be less sensitive and very stable under normal illumination. In this letter, the zero-backward scattering condition was investigated on a homogenous Cu₂O spherical subwavelength particle, both theoretically and experimentally. In particular, the influence of the substrate and the impinging direction on the angular distribution of light scattering under this directional condition were studied. We observed that the zero-backward scattering condition was also sensitive to the presence of a substrate beneath when a non-normal illumination was considered. We believe that our finding is quite interesting from a practical point of view and for the real implementation of directional scattering in various applications like cloaking, light-emitting devices, photovoltaic devices, bio-sensing, and many more.

On the scattering directionality of a dielectric particle dimer of High Refractive Index

Low-losses and directionality effects exhibited by High Refractive Index Dielectric particles make them attractive for applications where radiation direction control is relevant. For instance, isolated metallo-dielectric core-shell particles or aggregates (dimers) of High Refractive Index Dielectric particles have been proposed for building operational switching devices. Also, the possibility of using isolated High Refractive Index Dielectric particles for optimizing solar cells performance has been explored. Here, we present experimental evidence in the microwave range, that a High Refractive Index Dielectric dimer of spherical particles is more efficient for redirecting the incident radiation in the forward direction than the isolated case. In fact, we report two spectral regions in the dipolar spectral range where the incident intensity is mostly scattered in the forward direction. They correspond to the Zero-Backward condition (also observed for isolated particles) and to a new condition, denoted as "near Zero-Backward" condition, which comes from the interaction effects between the particles. The proposed configuration has implications in solar energy harvesting devices and in radiation guiding.

Light guiding and switching using eccentric core-shell geometries

High Refractive Index (HRI) dielectric nanoparticles have been proposed as an alternative to metallic ones due to their low absorption and magnetodielectric response in the VIS and NIR ranges. For the latter, important scattering directionality effects can be obtained. Also, systems constituted by dimers of HRI dielectric nanoparticles have shown to produce switching effects by playing with the polarization, frequency or intensity of the incident radiation. Here, we show that scattering directionality effects can be achieved with a single eccentric metallo-HRI dielectric core-shell nanoparticle. As an example, the effect of the metallic core displacements for a single Ag-Si core-shell nanoparticle has been analyzed. We report rotation of the main scattering lobe either clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the polarization of the incident radiation leading to new scattering configurations for switching purposes. Also, the efficiency of the scattering directionality can be enhanced. Finally, chains of these scattering units have shown good radiation guiding effects, and for 1D periodic arrays, redirection of diffracted intensity can be observed as a consequence of blazing effects. The proposed scattering units constitute new blocks for building systems for optical communications, solar energy harvesting devices and light guiding at the nanoscale level.

Electrically Tunable Metamaterials Based on Multimaterial Nanowires Incorporating Transparent Conductive Oxides

We present novel design approaches for metasurfaces and metamaterials with electrical tunability offering real-time manipulation of light and serving as multifunctional devices in near-infrared frequency regime (at the specific wavelength of 1.55 μm). For this purpose, we integrate indium-tin-oxide (ITO) as a tunable electro-optical material into multimaterial nanowires with metal-oxide-semiconductor and metal-insulator-metal configurations. In particular, an active metasurface operating in the transmission mode is designed which allows for modulation of the transmitted light phase over 280 degrees. This large phase modulation is afforded in the cost of low transmission efficiency. We demonstrate the use of such active metasurfaces for tunable bending and focusing in free-space. Moreover, we investigate the implementation of this material in deeply subwavelength multimaterial nanowires, which can yield strong variations in the effective refractive index by the virtue of internal homogenization enabling tunability of the performance in gradient refractive index metamaterials. In the theoretical modeling of these structures, we adopt a hierarchical multiscale approach by linking drift-diffusion transport model with the electromagnetic model which rigorously characterizes the electro-optical effects.

Controllable synthesis Fe3O4@POHABA core-shell nanostructure as high-performance recyclable bifunctional magnetic antimicrobial agent

We demonstrated a method to form magnetic antimicrobial POHABA (poly-N,N'-[(4,5-dihydroxy-1,2-phenylene)bis(methylene)]bisacrylamide)-based core-shell nanostructure by free-radical polymerization of OHABA on the Fe₃O₄ core surface. The magnetic antimicrobial agent Fe₃O₄@POHABA can be used in domestic water treatment against bacterial pathogens. The thickness of POHABA shell could be controlled from 10.4 ± 1.2 to 56.3 ± 11.7 nm by the dosage of OHABA. The results of antimicrobial-activity test indicated that POHABA-based core-shell nanostructure had broad-spectrum inhibitory against Gram-negative, Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of Fe₃O₄@POHABA nanostructure against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis were both 0.4 mg/mL. Fe₃O₄@POHABA nanostructures responded to a permanent magnet and were easily recycled. Fe₃O₄@POHABA nanoparticles retained 100% antimicrobial efficiency for both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria throughout eight recycle procedures.