Optical Properties of Au-Based and Pt-Based Alloys for Infrared Device Applications: A Combined First Principle and Electromagnetic Simulation Study

Min-Hsueh Chiu

Abstract:

Due to the rapid progress in MEMS-based infrared emitters and sensors, strong demand
exists for suitable plasmonic materials for such microdevices. We examine the possibility of achieving
this goal by alloying other metals with the noble metals Au and Pt, which have some drawbacks,
such as low melting point, structural instability, and high costs. The six different metals (Ir, Mo,
Ni, Pb, Ta, and W) which possess good properties for heat resistance, stability, and magnetism
are mixed with noble metals to improve the properties. The optical properties are calculated by
density functional theory and they are used for further investigations of the optical responses of alloy
nanorods. The results show that the studied alloy nanorods have wavelength selective properties
and can be useful for infrared devices and systems.