Self-assembled broadband plasmonic nanoparticle arrays for sensing applications

Highly ordered noble metal nanoparticle (NP) arrays are produced using a glancing angle deposition on stepped substrates. The versatility of the technique is demonstrated by depositing different metals, resulting in shifts of the resonance positions. The behaviour of the NP arrays grown is predicted by a dipolar model, and it is measured using reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS). Fine tuning of the resonances can be finally realised by selecting the deposition parameters. The combined application of both RAS and deposition at glancing angles provides a unique tool to grow NP arrays with the tunable plasmonic resonances in the entire visible range.