Plasmonic nanostructures are widely used in chemical imaging, for instance, as substrates that enhance Raman signatures or to measure local refractive index changes. Self-assembled plasmonic molecules that contain molecules located in the electromagnetic hot-spots between plasmonic molecules provide, however, additional opportunities for measuring molecular conductance at optical frequencies in an all-optical fashion as the gap conductance can affect the spectrum of the coupled plasmons. Here, we characterize the effect of the gap conductance on the optical spectra of discrete dimers with molecular linkers in the gap through a combined experimental and theoretical study. We elucidate the gap separation for which optical conductance measurements become feasible and discuss the role of the molecule and its interaction with and impact on the coupled plasmons. Finally, we outline how the spectral dependence on the gap conductance provides the basis for future chemical imaging concepts that exploit the gap-conductance dependence of coupled plasmons.<br/>

Imaging molecular conductance at optical frequencies in plasmonic molecules

256th National Meeting (2018)

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