A frequency-addressed plasmonic switch based on dual-frequency liquid crystals

A frequency-addressed plasmonic switch was demonstrated by embedding a uniform gold nanodisk array into dual-frequency liquid crystals (DFLCs). The optical properties of the hybrid system were characterized by extinction spectra of localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs). The LSPR peak was tuned using a frequency-dependent electric field. A similar to 4 nm blueshift was observed for frequencies below 15 kHz, and a 23 nm redshift was observed for frequencies above 15 kHz. The switching time for the system was similar to 40 ms. This DFLC-based active plasmonic system demonstrates an excellent, reversible, frequency-dependent switching behavior and could be used in future integrated nanophotonic circuits. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3483156]