Disordered gold nanoislands-dielectric-metal plasmon reflector for polarization-sensitive color display, humidity sensor and optical memory.

Abstract

The interaction between ultrafast, tightly focused lasers and materials has garnered significant interest owing to its distinctive properties. In this study, we present a versatile methodology for the fabrication of tunable plasmonic nanostructures by employing a disordered gold nanoisland-dielectric-metal configuration, achieved through femtosecond laser printing. By reshaping the gold nanoislands and reconfiguring them into nanograting-like structures, the orientation of these nanostructures is influenced by the polarization of the femtosecond laser light, leading to controllable plasmon resonance and polarization-sensitive color display. Furthermore, the system demonstrates a significant sensitivity to environmental humidity, as indicated by water adsorption, which leads to marked color changes. The hotspots generated through plasmonic coupling among disordered gold nanoislands significantly enhance polarization-multiplexed optical data storage, characterized by its high quality and low energy consumption. This experimental demonstration promotes the advancement of sophisticated optical devices for plasmonic color printing with tailored characteristics, thereby offering economical solutions for applications in optoelectronics and sensing.