Cathodoluminescence and tip-plasmon resonance of Bi2Te3 triangular nanostructures

PLoS One. 2024 Jan 19;19(1):e0291251. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291251. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Bi2Te3, as a topological insulator, is able to support plasmonic emission in the visible spectral range. Thin Bi2Te3 flakes can be exfoliated directly from a Bi2Te3 crystal, and the shape of Bi2Te3 flakes can be further modified by focused ion beam milling. Therefore, we have designed a Bi2Te3 triangular antenna with distinct tip angles for the application of plasmonic resonance. The plasmonic emission of the Bi2Te3 triangular antenna is excited and investigated by cathodoluminescence in the scanning electron microscope. Enhanced tip plasmons have been observed from distinct tips with angles of 20º, 36º, 54º, 70º, and 90º, respectively. Due to the confinement of geometric boundaries for oscillating charges, the resonant peak position of tip plasmon with a smaller angle has a blue shift. Moreover, the dependence of plasmonic behavior on the excitation position has been discovered as well. This research provides a unique approach to fabricate Bi2Te3 nanostructures and manipulate the corresponding plasmonic properties.

MeSH terms

  • Nanostructures* / chemistry
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance*
  • Vibration

Grants and funding

Q.Y. received fundings by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (No. A2022104002), the Science and Technology Project of Hebei Education Department (No. BJK2022065), and the Foundation of Transformation and Development Projects of Baoding University (No. 2021Z03). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.