| Surface plasmons are electromagnetic waves that couple to the free electrons in a metal and oscillate collectively at the interface of the metal and a dielectric. Due to the capability of surface plasmons in localizing and guiding light in sub-wavelength metal structures, surface plasmon-based photonics, or "plasmonics", offers an opportunity to merge photonics and electronics at nanoscale dimensions. Thus, through plasmonics, the realization of very large scale electronics and photonics integration (VLSEPI) becomes possible. Although major breakthroughs have been made in passive plasmonic devices, including waveguides, couplers, and lenses, only a limited amount of research has been conducted on active plasmonic components, such as switches and modulators.;This dissertation centers on designing, modeling, and prototyping a new class of molecular-machine-based active plasmonic materials and devices. In logical order, we have: (1) developed high-throughput and cost-effective nanofabrication and nanoengineering tools for producing metal nanostructures of the desired plasmonic properties; (2) measured and modeled the localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of both individual nanostructures and nanostructure arrays; (3) achieved dynamic control of the LSPRs and their interactions with molecules resonances; and (4) prototyped plasmonic switches and modulators based on artificial molecular machines. Once established, these molecular-level active plasmonic devices could achieve unprecedented performance and become integral components for future, ultrasmall, energy-saving photonic integrated circuits and VLSEPI, benefiting a range of applications, from optical communications to medical diagnosis. |
