Localized surface resonances of J-aggregate nanostructures

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that J-aggregate nanostructures can concentrate light at optical frequencies and exhibit nonlinear optical properties, enabling ultracompact all-optical switching devices in nanophotonics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel use of molecular J-aggregate nanostructures for light concentration and nonlinear optical applications, contrasting with traditional metallic nanostructures.

Findings

J-aggregate nanostructures concentrate electromagnetic fields at optical frequencies.

They exhibit highly nonlinear optical properties.

Potential for ultracompact all-optical switching devices.

Abstract

Metallic nanostructures are able to concentrate light into volumes far below the diffraction limit. Here we show, by accurate scattering calculations, that nanostructures obtained from thin films of J-aggregate dyes, concentrate the electromagnetic field at optical frequencies. Moreover, in contrast to metal nanoparticles, these molecular aggregates display highly attractive nonlinear optical properties that can be exploited for the realization of ultracompact devices for switching light by light on the nanoscale without the need of additional nonlinear materials. These results open new perspectives in plasmonic based nanophotonics.