Studies on the Plasmon-Induced Photoexcitation Processes of Molecules on Metal Surfaces (eBook)

Supervisor’s Foreword 6
Parts of this thesis have been published in the following journal articles and book: 8
Acknowledgements 9
Contents 10
1 General Introduction 12
1.1 Surface Plasmon Resonance for Control of the Photon Field 12
1.2 Interaction Between Plasmons and Molecules: Active Plasmonics 16
1.2.1 Use of Plasmons as a Confined Photon Field (Electromagnetic Enhancement) 16
1.2.2 Use of Plasmons for Generating Electron–hole Pairs via Plasmon Decay 17
1.2.3 Formation of the Hybridised State 19
1.3 Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering 19
1.3.1 Normal Raman Scattering 19
1.3.2 The Electromagnetic Effect of Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering 21
1.3.3 Electronic (and Vibronic) Resonance Raman Scattering 22
1.3.4 Chemical Effect of Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering 23
1.4 The Aim of the Study 25
References 25
2 The Depolarisation Behaviour of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Photons in a Metal Nanodimer Structure 28
2.1 Introduction 28
2.2 Experimental 29
2.3 Results and Discussion 30
2.4 Conclusion 37
References 38
3 Simultaneous Measurement of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering and Conductance Using Mechanically Controllable Break Junction Technique 39
3.1 Introduction 39
3.2 Experimental 40
3.3 Results and Discussion 42
3.4 Conclusion 45
References 45
4 Electronic Excitation of an Isolated Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube by Tuning Electrochemical Potential 47
4.1 Introduction 47
4.2 Experimental 49
4.3 Results and Discussion 49
4.4 Conclusion 54
References 55
5 Raman Enhancement via Polariton States Produced by Strong Coupling Between Localised Surface Plasmons and Dye Excitons in Metal Nanodimers 56
5.1 Introduction 56
5.2 Experimental 57
5.3 Results and Discussion 58
5.4 Conclusion 64
References 65
6 Electrochemical Control of Strong Coupling Between Localised Surface Plasmons and Dye Excitons 67
6.1 Introduction 67
6.2 Experimental 68
6.3 Results and Discussion 69
6.4 Conclusion 78
6.5 General Conclusion 78
References 80
Curriculam Vitae 82