Generation of Tamm Plasmon Resonances for Light Confinement Applications in Narrowband Gradient-Index Filters Based on Nanoporous Anodic Alumina

Gold-coated gradient-index filters based on nanoporous anodic alumina (Au-coated NAA−GIFs) were used as model platforms to elucidate how Tamm plasmons can be tailored by engineering the geometric features of the plasmonic and photonic components of these hybrid structures. NAA−GIFs with well-resolved, intense photonic stopbands at two positions of the visible spectrum were fabricated through sinusoidal pulse anodization. These model photonic crystals were used to assess how the quality of Tamm plasmon resonances can be enhanced by tuning the features of the dielectric mirror and the thickness of the porous gold coating layer. It is found that the highest value of the quality factor of Tamm resonance (QTamm = 237) is obtained for 11 nm of gold on a dielectric mirror with low porosity corresponding to the resonant spectral position of λTamm of ∼698 nm. Our analysis indicates that Tamm resonances in asproduced Au-coated NAA−GIFs are weak due to the constrained range of wavelengths (narrow bands) at which these photonic crystal structures reflect light. However, after broadening of their photonic stopband upon pore widening, Tamm resonances become better resolved, with higher intensity. It is also observed that the quality of light confinement worsens progressively with the thickness of the porous gold coating layer after a critical value. In contrast to conventional surface plasmon resonance systems, this hybrid Tamm porous system does not require complex coupling systems and provides a nanoporous structure that can be readily tailored for a range of photonic technologies such as sensing and lasing.Alejandro Rojas Gómez, Laura K. Acosta, Josep Ferré-Borrull, Abel Santos, and Lluis F. Marsa

Tunable Fabry-Perot interferometer based on nanoporous anodic alumina for optical biosensing purposes

Here, we present a systematic study about the effect of the pore length and its diameter on the specular reflection in nanoporous anodic alumina. As we demonstrate, the specular reflection can be controlled at will by structural tuning (i.e., by designing the pore geometry). This makes it possible to produce a wide range of Fabry-Pérot interferometers based on nanoporous anodic alumina, which are envisaged for developing smart and accurate optical sensors in such research fields as biotechnology and medicine. Additionally, to systematize the responsiveness to external changes in optical sensors based on nanoporous anodic alumina, we put forward a barcode system based on the oscillations in the specular reflection.Abel Santos, Victor S Balderrama, María Alba, Pilar Formentín, Josep Ferré-Borrull, Josep Pallarès, Lluís F Marsa

Structural tuning of photoluminescence in nanoporous anodic alumina by hard anodization in oxalic and malonic acids

We report on an exhaustive and systematic study about the photoluminescent properties of nanoporous anodic alumina membranes fabricated by the one-step anodization process under hard conditions in oxalic and malonic acids. This optical property is analysed as a function of several parameters (i.e. hard anodization voltage, pore diameter, membrane thickness, annealing temperature and acid electrolyte). This analysis makes it possible to tune the photoluminescent behaviour at will simply by modifying the structural characteristics of these membranes. This structural tuning ability is of special interest in such fields as optoelectronics, in which an accurate design of the basic nanostructures (e.g. microcavities, resonators, filters, supports, etc.) yields the control over their optical properties and, thus, upon the performance of the nanodevices derived from them (biosensors, interferometers, selective filters, etc.).Abel Santos, Maria Alba, Mahbubur M Rahman, Pilar Formentín, Josep Ferré-Borrull, Josep Pallarès, Lluis F Marsa

Stacked nanoporous anodic alumina gradient-index filters with tunable multispectral photonic stopbands as sensing platforms

This study presents the development and optical engineering of stacked nanoporous anodic alumina gradient-index (NAA-GIFs) filters with tunable multispectral photonic stopbands for sensing applications. The structure of these photonic crystals (PC) is formed by stacked layers of NAA produced with sinusoidally modified effective medium. The progressive modification of the sinusoidal period during the anodization process enables the generation and precise tuning of the characteristic photonic stopbands (PSB) (i.e., one per sinusoidal period in the anodization profile) of these PC structures. Four types of NAA-GIFs featuring three distinctive PSBs positioned within the visible spectral region are developed. The sensitivity of the effective medium of these NAA-GIFs is systematically assessed by measuring spectral shifts in the characteristic PSBs upon infiltration of their nanoporous structure with analytical solutions of d-glucose with several concentrations (0.025–1 M). This study provides new insights into the intrinsic relationship between the nanoporous architecture of these PCs and their optical properties, generating opportunities to fabricate advanced optical sensing systems for high-throughput and multiplexed detection of analytes in a single sensing platform.Laura K. Acosta, Francesc Bertó-Roselló, Elisabet Xifre-Perez, Abel Santos, Josep Ferré-Borrull, and Lluis F. Marsa

Surface ablation of RbTiOPO4 by femtosecond laser

We report here the results obtained in surface ablation of RbTiOPO4 single crystals by femtosecond laser. We fabricated and characterized one-dimensional (1D) diffraction gratings with different lattice spacings of 15 and 20 μm, and with a sub-modulation of the period introduced in the later. The optical and electronic microscopy characterization and filling factor analysis of these diffraction gratings are reported. We also show that the roughness generated on the grooves by the ablation process can be improved by chemical etching.This work was partially funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Program under Project Cleanspace FP7-SPACE-2010-1-GA-263044, supported by the Spanish Government under Projects PI09/90527, TEC2009-09551, AECID A/024560/09, FIS2009-09522, HOPE CSD2007-00007 and SAUUL CSD2007-00013 (Consolider-Ingenio 2010), by Catalan Government under Projects 2009SGR235 and 2009SGR549, by Junta de Castilla y León under Project GR27, and by the Research Center on Engineering of Materials and Systems (EMaS) of the URV. J.J.C. is supported by the Education and Science Ministry of Spain and European Social Fund under the Ramón y Cajal program, RYC2006-858. We also acknowledge support from the Centro de Laseres Pulsados, CLPU, Salamanca, Spain

Cobalt and Nickel Nanopillars on Aluminium Substrates by Direct Current Electrodeposition Process

A fast and cost-effective technique is applied for fabricating cobalt and nickel nanopillars on aluminium substrates. By applying an electrochemical process, the aluminium oxide barrier layer is removed from the pore bottom tips of nanoporous anodic alumina templates. So, cobalt and nickel nanopillars are fabricated into these templates by DC electrodeposition. The resulting nanostructure remains on the aluminium substrate. In this way, this method could be used to fabricate a wide range of nanostructures which could be integrated in new nanodevices

Molecular gated nanoporous anodic alumina for the detection of cocaine

[EN] We present herein the use of nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA) as a suitable support to implement molecular gates for sensing applications. In our design, a NAA support is loaded with a fluorescent reporter (rhodamine B) and functionalized with a short single-stranded DNA. Then pores are blocked by the subsequent hybridisation of a specific cocaine aptamer. The response of the gated material was studied in aqueous solution. In a typical experiment, the support was immersed in hybridisation buffer solution in the absence or presence of cocaine. At certain times, the release of rhodamine B from pore voids was measured by fluorescence spectroscopy. The capped NAA support showed poor cargo delivery, but presence of cocaine in the solution selectively induced rhodamine B release. By this simple procedure a limit of detection as low as 5 × 10−7 M was calculated for cocaine. The gated NAA was successfully applied to detect cocaine in saliva samples and the possible re-use of the nanostructures was assessed. Based on these results, we believe that NAA could be a suitable support to prepare optical gated probes with a synergic combination of the favourable features of selected gated sensing systems and NAA.We thank Projects MAT2015-64139-C4-1-R and TEC2015-71324-R (MINECO/FEDER), the Catalan Government (Project 2014 SGR 1344), the ICREA (ICREA2014 Academia Award) and the Generalitat Valenciana (Project PROMETEOII/2014/047) for support. We also thank to the Agencia Espanola del Medicamento y Productos Sanitarios for its concessions. A.R. thanks the UPV for her predoctoral fellowship. The authors also thank the Electron Microscopy Service at UPV for support.Ribes, À.; Xifre Perez, E.; Aznar, E.; Sancenón Galarza, F.; Pardo Vicente, MT.; Marsal, LF.; Martínez-Máñez, R. (2016). Molecular gated nanoporous anodic alumina for the detection of cocaine. 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Light absorption modeling of ordered bulk heterojunction organic solar cells

10.1016/j.cap.2013.07.016Ordered bulk heterojunction organic solar cells are devices that combine the advantages of the planar bilayer and the bulk heterojunction architectures. They offer uninterrupted pathways to electrodes for effective charge collection and an extended Donor-Acceptor interface for efficient exciton dissociation. Additionally, this interface can also be a potential approach to increase photon absorption by light trapping. Light absorption and charge carrier generation of organic nanostructures are studied by means of ?nite-element modeling for a wide range of structuring widths, periods and heights for poly(3-hexylthiophene):1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)C61 (P3HT:PCBM) structures. Results show an increase in light absorption at certain wavelengths in the P3HT region with respect to an equivalent planar bilayer model. This increase can be attributed to two phenomena: for the smallest periods the structures behaves like an effective medium, while for periods of the order of magnitude of the incident light wavelength there is light trapping. The maximum increase in absorption was achieved for a 250 nm-width and 500 nm periodicity structure with a height of 40 nm. Exciton diffusion has also been studied to evaluate the effective amount of absorbed light contributing to photocurrent. In this case, best results correspond to the smallest sizes (1.25-12.5 nm-width) for all the considered heights, achieving an increment in the photocurrent up to more than a factor 6 if compared with that of the reference planar bilayer device. This study can be used to optimize our devices, which are achieved via nanoporous anodic alumina templates

Photoluminescent enzymatic sensor based on nanoporous anodic alumina

Herein, we present a smart enzymatic sensor based on nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA) and its photoluminescence (PL) in the UV-visible range. The as-produced structure of NAA is functionalized and activated in order to perform the enzyme immobilization in a controlled manner. The whole process is monitored through the PL spectrum and each stage is characterized by an exclusive barcode, which is associated with the PL oscillations. This characteristic property allows us to calculate the change in the effective optical thickness that takes place after each stage. This makes it possible to accurately detect and quantify the immobilized enzyme within the NAA structure. Finally, the NAA geometry (i.e., the pore length and its diameter) is optimized to improve the enzyme immobilization and its detection inside the pores. This enzymatic sensor can give quick and accurate measurements of enzyme levels, what is crucial in clinical enzymology to prevent and detect diseases at their primary stage.Abel Santos, Gerard Macías, Josep Ferré-Borrull, Josep Pallarès, and Lluís F. Marsa

Two-dimensional finite-element modeling of periodical interdigitated full organic solar cells

10.1063/1.4788819By means of ?nite-element numerical modeling, we analyze the in?uence of the nanostructured dissociation interface geometry on the behavior of interdigitated heterojunction full organic solar cells. A systematic analysis of light absorption, exciton diffusion, and carrier transport, all in the same numerical framework, is carried out to obtain their dependence on the interface geometrical parameters: pillar diameter and height, and nanostructure period. Cells are constituted of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)C61. Results show that light absorption is maximum for pillar heights of 80 nm and 230 nm. However, due to the short exciton diffusion length of organic materials, the analysis of the exciton diffusion process reveals that the 80 nm thickness gives rise to a higher photocurrent, except for the smaller pillar diameters. In terms of ef?ciency, it has been observed that the charge carrier transport is weakly dependent on the geometric parameters of the nanostructured interface if compared with the exciton diffusion process. The optimal cell is a device with a pillar height of 80 nm, a structure period of 25 nm, and a ratio of the nanopillar diameter to the period of 0.75, with an ef?ciency 3.6 times higher than the best planar bilayer reference device. This structure is such that it reaches a compromise between having a high proportion of P3HT to increase light absorption but preserving a small pillar diameter and interpillar distance to ensure an extended exciton dissociation interface