Excitation of localized graphene plasmons by aperiodic self-assembled arrays of metallic antennas

Infrared (IR) and terahertz plasmons in two-dimensional (2D) materials are commonly excited by metallic or dielectric grating couplers with deep-submicron features fabricated by e-beam lithography. Mass reproduction of such gratings at macroscopic scales is a labor-consuming and expensive technology. Here, we show that localized plasmons in graphene can be generated on macroscopic scales with couplers based on randomly oriented particle-like nanorods (NRs) in close proximity to graphene layer. We monitor the excitation of graphene plasmons indirectly by tracking the changes in reflection/absorption spectra of methylene blue (MB) or polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) molecules deposited on the structure. Hybridization of spectrally broad graphene plasmon and narrow molecular oscillators results in enhanced oscillator strengths and Fano scattering related lines asymmetry in reflection spectra.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates that localized plasmons in graphene can be generated on a macroscopic scale using couplers based on randomly oriented particle-like nanorods (NRs), eliminating the need for expensive and time-consuming e-beam lithography. Monitoring the excitation of graphene plasmons indirectly by observing the changes in reflection/absorption spectra of methylene blue (MB) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) molecules on the structure reveals enhanced oscillator strengths and Fano scattering related lines asymmetry in reflection spectra due to the hybridization of spectrally broad graphene plasmon and narrow molecular oscillators.