Extraordinary optical transmission through metal-coated colloidal monolayers

Extraordinary optical transmission through metal-coated close-packed monolayers has been observed. The monolayers consist of silica (a-SiO2) or polystyrene microspheres that form two-dimensional close-packed lattices by self-assembly. Metal layers of Ag, Au and Ni with different thicknesses (larger than the skin depth) were evaporated onto such lattices by means of standard techniques. The optical transmission spectra investigated between 300 and 2500 nm show pronounced peaks that scale with the diameter and the optical properties of the composite slabs. The enhanced transmission observed is most likely mediated via plasmons.