Metal enhanced fluorescence in rare earth doped plasmonic core-shell nanoparticles

• Published in: Nanotechnology Vol. 24; no. 49; p. 495704
• Main Authors: Derom, S, Berthelot, A, Pillonnet, A, Benamara, O, Jurdyc, A M, Girard, C, Colas des Francs, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 13.12.2013; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Collective excitations (including excitons, polarons, plasmons and other charge-density excitations); Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures; Energy Transfer; Exact sciences and technology; Fluorescence; Ions; Luminescence; Materials Testing; Mathematical analysis; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Metals - chemistry; Metals, Rare Earth; Nanoparticles; Nanotubes - chemistry; Optics; Physics; Plasmonics; Plasmons; Rare earth metals; Shells; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Surface and interface electron states; Surface Plasmon Resonance; Surface Properties; Tuning; Near infrared radiation; Particle size; Experimental data; Core shell structure; Doping; Fluorescence; Plasmons; Resonance; Particle shape; Energy transfer
• ISSN: 0957-4484; 1361-6528
• DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/24/49/495704

We theoretically and numerically investigate metal enhanced fluorescence of plasmonic core-shell nanoparticles doped with rare earth (RE) ions. Particle shape and size are engineered to maximize the average enhancement factor (AEF) of the overall doped shell. We show that the highest enhancement (11 in the visible and 7 in the near-infrared) is achieved by tuning either the dipolar or the quadrupolar particle resonance to the rare earth ion's excitation wavelength. Additionally, the calculated AEFs are compared to experimental data reported in the literature, obtained in similar conditions (plasmon mediated enhancement) or when a metal-RE energy transfer mechanism is involved.