Graphene as a substrate for plasmonic nanoparticles

We report results from an investigation into the plasmonic properties of metallic nanoparticles supported by graphene fabricated using two different methods. In the first method we used electron-beam lithography to produce ordered arrays of metallic nanoparticles. In the second method we used a technique based on electrochemistry to produce random arrangements of metallic nanoparticles. Our results show that both pristine graphene and a more conducting intercalated variant are excellent substrates for plasmonic nanoparticles owing to their transparency and atomically thin nature, opening an interesting route for building plasmon-based bio- and chemical-sensors, and for developing transparent and flexible optoelectronics.