Enhanced and Spectrally Selective Photothermal Conversion in Plasmonic Nanohelices

We study the photothermal conversion in plasmonic nanohelices, unveiling how helical nanostructures made from metals with a notable interband activity -such as cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni)- exhibit a remarkable temperature rise ΔT up to ≈1000 K under illumination. Such outstanding ΔT values exclusively occur at wavelengths close to their localized plasmon resonances (ΔT is significantly lower off resonance), and therefore the photothermal conversion of these nanoparticles is spectrally selective. The exceptional and spectrally selective temperature rise is demonstrated at near infrared (NIR) wavelengths, which prompts the use of Co and Ni helical nanoparticles in a wide range of photothermal applications including solar energy conversion, seawater desalination, catalysis, or nanomedicine.

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Meeting regional government

 

 

On March 18th 2024, the president of the regional government “Junta de Castilla y León” had a meeting with seven ERC grantees of the region. José Caridad, PI of the ERC project CHIROTRONICS attended teh meeting.

The event was widely difused in several media, see the following press releases (in spanish):

Room-temperature resonant THz detection in short-channel graphene transistors

 

We demonstrate frequency-selective and frequency-tunable detection of #teraherz (THz) radiation at ambient conditions in short-channel #graphene transistors. Plasmon resonances occuring in such devices are able to survive at room temperature due to the high intrinsic mobility of charge carriers in monolayer graphene. These functional THz photodetectors can be used in a wide range of applications including selective sensing, frequency mixing, signal modulation or nanoscale confinement of light.

Further details are provided here

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