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The electro-magnetic field generated within and around dissipative nano-structures upon light radiation is intimately associated to the formation of localized heat sources. In turn, this phenomenon determines localized temperature variations, effect which can be exploited for applications such as photocatalysis [1], nanochemistry [2] or sensor devices [3]. Here we show how the geometrical characteristics of plasmonic nano-structures can indeed be used to modulate the temperature response. The idea is that when metallic structures interact with an electromagnetic field they heat up due to Joule effect. The corresponding temperature variation modifies the optical response of the structure [4,5] and thus its heating process. The key finding is that, depending on the structures geometry, absorption efficiency can either increase or decrease with temperature. Since absorption relates to the thermal energy dissipation and thus to temperature increase, the mechanism leads to positive or negative loops. Consequently, not only an error would be made by neglecting the role of temperature, but it would be not even possible to know, a priori, if the error is towards higher or lower absorption values. Our model can be utilized to study opto-thermal phenomena when high temperature or high intensity sources are employed. [1] M. Honda et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 104, 061108 (2014) [2] G. Baffou et al., Chem. Soc. Rev. 43, 3898 (2014) [3] S. Ozdemir et al., J. Lightwave Tech. 21, 805 (2003) [4] A. Alabastri et al., ACS Photonics 2, 115 (2015) [5] A. Alabastri et al., Materials 6, 4879 (2013)

Metallic nanostructures can be utilized as heat nano-sources which can find application in different areas such as photocatalysis, nanochemistry or sensor devices. Here we show how the optical response of plasmonic structures is affected by the increase of temperature. In particular we apply a temperature dependent dielectric function model to different nanoparticles finding that the optical responses are strongly dependent on shape and aspect-ratio. The idea is that when metallic structures interact with an electromagnetic field they heat up due to Joule effect. The corresponding temperature increase modifies the optical response of the particle and thus the heating process. The key finding is that, depending on the structures geometry, absorption efficiency can either increase or decrease with temperature. Since absorption relates to thermal energy dissipation and thus to temperature increase, the mechanism leads to positive or negative loops. Consequently, not only an error would be made by neglecting temperature but it would be not even possible to know, a priori, if the error is towards higher or lower values.

In this work we show that the fabrication method introduced by De Angelis et al.1 is highly versatile and allows to produce three-dimensional (3D) hollow plasmonic nanostructures with a precisely tunable shape and with large scale capabilities. The fabrication process is comprehensively explained and some structure examples are introduced in order to show the versatility of the method. The resulting plasmonic nanoantennas are characterized by Raman spectroscopy in order to evaluate their plasmonic performance in respect to their features.

We propose the development of an innovative plasmonic-electronic multifunctional platform, capable at the same time of performing chemical analysis and electronic recordings from a cellular interface. The system, based on 3D hollow metallic nanotubes, integrated on customized multi-electrode-arrays, allows the study of neuronal signaling over different lengths, spanning from the molecular, to the cellular, to the network scale. Here we show that the same structures are efficient electric field enhancers, despite the continuous metal layer at the base, which connects them to the electric components of the integrated circuits. The methodology we propose, due to its simplicity and high throughput, has the potential for further improvements both in the field of plasmonics, and in the integration on large areas of commercial active electronic devices.

The ability to confine light in small volumes, associated to low background signals, is an important technological achievement for a number of disciplines such as biology or electronics. In fact, decoupling the source position from the sample area allows an unprecedented sensitivity which can be exploited in different systems. The most direct implications are however related to either Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) or Tip Enhanced Raman Scattering (TERS). Furthermore, while the combination with super-hydrophobic patterns can overcome the typical diffusion limit of sensors, focused surface plasmons decaying into hot electrons can be exploited to study the electronic properties of the sample by means of a Schottky junction. Within this paper these techniques will be briefly described and the key role played by both surface and localized plasmons will be highlighted.