SURFACE-PLASMON RESONANCE WITHIN ION-IMPLANTED SILVER CLUSTERS

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) belongs to the most sensitive indicato rs for changes in analyte concentrations or other sample properties, w hich depend on the refractive index in the medium. Surface plasmons re present collective electron oscillations in metal cluster or metal lay ers of diameter or thickness in the nanometer range. Such layers or cl usters are used in many optical sensors in order to enhance the intera ction between electromagnetic radiation and analyte. Clusters are pref erred to enhance Raman scattering and IR absorption, whereas layers ar e used for SPR in the visible range. We tested the applicability of io n implanted clusters in order to enhance the stability of the metal co atings of the SPR sensor elements. A model based on the effective medi a theory was developed in order to enhance the sensor capabilities. Th e potential of the SPR with ion implanted metal clusters consists in d urable resonance layers for biochemical sensors.