Controllable Surface Plasmon Resonance Properties of Hexagonal Close-Packed Metal Nanosphere Arrays

The wavelength of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak can be specifically tuned by precise control of the diameter and intersphere spacing of hexagonal close-packed metal nanosphere arrays (MSA). Large-area hexagonal close-packed metal nanosphere arrays with controllable spherical diameter and intersphere spacing are fabricated. The resonant peak locations for the maximun absorption of the localized surface plasmon were systematically measured and exhibited strong dependency on the diameter and intersphere spacing. This work demonstrates not only an inexpensive and easy route to fabricate a large-scale close-packed metal nanosphere arrays with controllable sizes compared to that can be achieved by the e-beam lithography method but also a platform for biosensor and plasmonic waveguide applications using localized surface plasmon resonance, surface-enhanced Raman scattering.