Symmetric tapered dielectric structures in metal have demonstrated applications such as the nanofocusing of surface plasmon polaritons, as well as the waveguiding of V-channel polaritons. Yet the fabrication of smooth-surfaced tapered structure remains an obstacle to most researchers. We have successfully developed a handy method to fabricate metal-sandwiched tapered nanostructures simply with electron beam lithography. Though these structures are slightly different from conventional symmetric V-shaped structures, systematic simulations show that similar functionality of surface plasmon polariton nanofocusing can still be achieved. When parameters are properly selected, wavelength- selective nanofocusing of surface plasmon polaritons can be obtained.
The light emission enhancement behavior from single ZnO nanowires integrated with metallic contacts is investigated by micro-photoluminescence measurements.Apart from surface plasmon polaritons at the air/metal interface,the emission of a single ZnO nanowire can be coupled into guided modes of surface exciton-plasmon polaritons(SEPPs).The out-coupling avenues of SEPP guided modes are modeled in the presence of nanostructures,such as corrugation and gratings,on the metal surface.The guided modes of SEPPs in metal-contacted ZnO nanowires are calculated using the effective index method.The enhanced light emission from single semiconductor nanowires shows promise for use in highly efficient nano-emitters and nano-lasers,as well as macroscopic solid state light sources with very high efficiency.
