SILVER-FILLED CARBON NANOTUBES USED AS SPECTROSCOPIC ENHANCERS

We analyze from a theoretical point of view the optical properties of arrays of carbon nanotubes filled with silver. Dependence of these pro perties on the different parameters involved is studied using a transf er matrix formalism able to work with tensorlike dielectric functions and including the full electromagnetic coupling between the nanotubes. We find that these structures exhibit very strong linear optical resp onse and the could be used as spectroscopic enhancers or chemical sens ors in the visible range. Very localized surface plasmons, created by the electromagnetic interaction between the capped silver cylinders, a re responsible for this enhancing ability. Enhancements of up to 10(6) in the Raman signal of molecules absorbed on these arrays could be ob tained.