Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

This research program will explore plasmon-assisted phenomena on nanostructures in order to provide tools for optimizing their properties for nanotechnology applications. Plasmonic effects associated with metallic nanostructures can be used to control, localize and enhance optical signals at the sub-wavelength scale. Recent experimental evidence suggests that these nanostructures can be utilized in a broad range of applications including solar energy harvesting, sensing, and biomedical applications; however, the development of theoretical models based on fundamental physics is absolutely necessary in order to guide the rapid development of these nanostructures for broader use. Some of the short- and medium-term research objectives of this proposal in this direction are outlined below.***1. Modelling a hybrid tandem plasmonic-enhanced photovoltaic cell. This project sets out an optimized model for a hybrid tandem plasmonic photovoltaic solar cell. This novel model uses the capability of gold nanostructures in the form of omnidirectional scattering as nanoparticles and in the form of guiding modes as corrugated gold film backreflectors. In this project, all optimizations will be based on modelling both the electronics and optics of the proposed photovoltaic devices. We will extend the use of optoelectronic modelling to further optimize our gold nanostructures' functionality and structured electrode designs to approach maximum absorption enhancement by the active layer.***2. Developing quantum dot gold nanostructure hybrid nanosensors. We will introduce a new generation of nanosensors, consisting of a quantum dot (QD) and gold nanostructure hybrid system. Our previous investigations showed that the fluorescence resonance-energy transfer between QDs and gold nanostructures supports a bistability in the QD-gold nanostructure hybrid system. We will develop a model for QDs response to the environment where both nanoparticles are treated quantum mechanically. In addition, the model will show the impact of the size of gold nanostructure on the response of QDs by applying numerical techniques where the dipole-dipole approximation is not valid.***3. Investigating plasma-mediated photoacoustic response from gold nanostructures irradiated by an ultrashort pulsed laser. We propose a project that develops a solid theoretical framework to measure photoacoustic signal emitted by gold nanostructures as a contrast agent irradiated by ultrashort pulsed laser. Enhanced by the presence of gold nanostructures, the laser field causes a formation of highly localized plasma. Here, the energy deposition in plasma is considered as a new source of energy to emit a pressure wave in the surrounding medium through structural mechanics. We propose a new approach to substantially increase the amplitude of the photoacoustic signal by optimizing the plasma generation around the gold nanostructures.**