Prospects of Utilizing Quantum Emitters to Control the Absorption of Non-Noble Plasmonic Metal Nanoparticles

Prospects of controlling the absorption of the cost-effective plasmonic metal nanoparticles (MNPs) Cu and Al using quantum emitters (QEs) are demonstrated semi-analytically. The resulting spectra are compared with the absorption of commonly used noble plasmonic metal nanoparticles Au and Ag under similar conditions. It is observed that Cu and Au based plasmonic nanoparticles exhibit largely similar exciton–plasmon Fano interaction signatures in addition to their similar spectral regions of operation (lower end of the visible range). Furthermore, the QE-enhanced maximum absorption (Fano maximum) of Cu based nanohybrids are seen to approach the maximum absorption level of isolated Au MNPs, with decreasing QE-Cu separation, increasing QE dipole element magnitude, and increasing medium permittivity, in the parameter region considered. This renders Cu based exciton–plasmon nanohybrids as more economical alternatives for Au MNPs and Au-based nanohybrids in absorption-based applications (such as thermoplasmonic), when stabilized in protective embedding media such as poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).