Demonstration of Al:ZnO as a plasmonic component for near-infrared metamaterials

Gururaj V. Naik, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Jingjing Liu, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Alexander V. Kildishev, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Vladimir M. Shalaev, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University; Russian Quantum Ctr
Alexandra Boltasseva, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University; Technical University of Denmark

Abstract

Noble metals such as gold and silver are conventionally used as the primary plasmonic building blocks of optical metamaterials. Making subwavelength-scale structural elements from these metals not only seriously limits the optical performance of a device due to high absorption, it also substantially complicates the manufacturing process of nearly all metamaterial devices in the optical wavelength range. As an alternative to noble metals, we propose to use heavily doped oxide semiconductors that offer both functional and fabrication advantages in the near-infrared wavelength range. In this letter, we replace a metal with aluminum-doped zinc oxide as a new plasmonic material and experimentally demonstrate negative refraction in an Al:ZnO/ZnO metamaterial in the near-infrared range.

Discipline(s)

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology