Plasmon Localization and Giant Fields in an Open-Resonator Metasurface forSurface-Enhanced-Raman-Scattering Sensors

Abstract

We present metal-dielectric metasurfaces fabricated from metal periodical nanograting deposited on a dielectric substrate. The metasurface consists of a modulated dielectric, which is covered by a thin silver layer. The metasurface operates as an open plasmon resonator. The theory of plasmons excited in the open resonator formed by a metal nanograting is presented. The large local electromagnetic field is predicted for optical frequencies. The excitation of plasmons is experimentally demonstrated in the metasurface designed on a 4-in. $\mathrm{Si}$ wafer. The enhancement of the local electric field results in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). To investigate the SERS effect, the metasurface is covered with a thin layer of the 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid that molecules form covalent bonds with the silver nanolayer. The enhancement of the Raman scattering serves as a proof of concept. We obtain a detection limit of 230 nM for molecules of 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid.