Magneto-plasmonic pesponse of nickel nano-rings prepared by electroless method

TL;DR

This paper presents a cost-effective method for fabricating nickel nano-rings with enhanced plasmonic properties, demonstrating their potential for highly sensitive sensing and optical applications through experimental and simulation analyses.

Contribution

Introduces a novel electroless deposition technique for creating uniform nickel nano-rings with improved plasmonic and magneto-optical responses, surpassing traditional fabrication methods.

Findings

Nano-rings exhibit surface plasmon resonance between 470-614 nm.

Narrow FWHM peaks at 512 nm and 560 nm indicate high sensitivity.

Finite element simulations confirm magnetic field influence on electromagnetic response.

Abstract

Magneto-plasmonic nanostructures have emerged as promising candidates for advanced sensing applications. However, conventional fabrication methods, such as lithography and sputtering, often involve high costs and complex processes. This study introduces a novel approach for fabricating nickel nano-rings (200-600 nm in diameter) utilizing nanosphere lithography and selective electroless deposition on ITO substrates. The resulting nickel-silver-boron (Ni-Ag-B) nanoarrays exhibit uniform, durable coatings with robust covalent bonds, providing a simpler, more cost-effective alternative to traditional methods. The unique ring-shaped geometry of the nano-rings enhances plasmonic effects by concentrating the electromagnetic field, thus outperforming other nanostructures. Unlike thin films, these nano-rings demonstrate surface plasmon resonance (SPR) within the 470-614 nm range when illuminated at a 45$^{\deg}$ incident angle. Moreover, ellipsometry parameter calculations and Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect (MOKE) measurements revealed narrow Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) peaks at 512 nm and 560 nm, indicating superior sensitivity for detection compared to conventional SPR and ellipsometry-SPR techniques. Finite element simulations using COMSOL provided valuable insight into the influence of magnetic fields on the electromagnetic response of the nano-rings, confirming their potential for optical communication and highly sensitive sensing technologies. This study addresses limitations in existing magneto-plasmonic systems, offering a scalable and innovative solution for the development of next-generation sensing applications.