Numerical Study of Electric Field Enhancement in Inverted-Pyramid Gold Arrays with Tunable Spacing

This study presents a comprehensive numerical and experimental investigation of electric field enhancement in inverted-pyramidal gold (Au) array substrates, focusing on variable inter-pyramidal spacing for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) applications. We conducted a series of finite element...

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Main Authors: Yaumalika Arta, Iman Santoso, Hao Chang, Ying-Pin Tsai, Fu-Li Hsiao, Tsung-Shine Ko, Yang-Wei Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Photonics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/5/522
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author Yaumalika Arta
Iman Santoso
Hao Chang
Ying-Pin Tsai
Fu-Li Hsiao
Tsung-Shine Ko
Yang-Wei Lin
author_facet Yaumalika Arta
Iman Santoso
Hao Chang
Ying-Pin Tsai
Fu-Li Hsiao
Tsung-Shine Ko
Yang-Wei Lin
author_sort Yaumalika Arta
collection DOAJ
description This study presents a comprehensive numerical and experimental investigation of electric field enhancement in inverted-pyramidal gold (Au) array substrates, focusing on variable inter-pyramidal spacing for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) applications. We conducted a series of finite element method (FEM) simulations to model the spatial distribution of electromagnetic fields within plasmonic metasurfaces under 780 nm laser excitation. The results show that reducing the spacing between inverted pyramidal structures from 10 μm to 3.2 μm significantly increases the electric field intensity at both the tip and edge regions of the inverted-pyramidal Au structure, with maximum fields reaching 6.75 × 10<sup>7</sup> V/m. Experimental SERS measurements utilizing 4-mercaptobenzoic acid as a Raman reporter support the simulation findings, indicating enhanced signal intensity in closely spaced configurations. These results confirm that geometric field concentration and plasmonic coupling are the dominant mechanisms responsible for SERS enhancement in these systems. This work provides a strategic framework for optimizing the geometry of plasmonic substrates to improve the sensitivity and reliability of SERS-based sensing platforms.
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spelling doaj-art-b1cd93e3b9cd4b80a91ad37324bf73732025-08-20T01:56:39ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322025-05-0112552210.3390/photonics12050522Numerical Study of Electric Field Enhancement in Inverted-Pyramid Gold Arrays with Tunable SpacingYaumalika Arta0Iman Santoso1Hao Chang2Ying-Pin Tsai3Fu-Li Hsiao4Tsung-Shine Ko5Yang-Wei Lin6Department of Physics, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta 55281, IndonesiaDepartment of Physics, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta 55281, IndonesiaDepartment of Chemistry, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua City 50007, TaiwanInstitute of Photonics, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua City 50007, TaiwanInstitute of Photonics, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua City 50007, TaiwanDepartment of Electronic Engineering, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua City 50074, TaiwanDepartment of Chemistry, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua City 50007, TaiwanThis study presents a comprehensive numerical and experimental investigation of electric field enhancement in inverted-pyramidal gold (Au) array substrates, focusing on variable inter-pyramidal spacing for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) applications. We conducted a series of finite element method (FEM) simulations to model the spatial distribution of electromagnetic fields within plasmonic metasurfaces under 780 nm laser excitation. The results show that reducing the spacing between inverted pyramidal structures from 10 μm to 3.2 μm significantly increases the electric field intensity at both the tip and edge regions of the inverted-pyramidal Au structure, with maximum fields reaching 6.75 × 10<sup>7</sup> V/m. Experimental SERS measurements utilizing 4-mercaptobenzoic acid as a Raman reporter support the simulation findings, indicating enhanced signal intensity in closely spaced configurations. These results confirm that geometric field concentration and plasmonic coupling are the dominant mechanisms responsible for SERS enhancement in these systems. This work provides a strategic framework for optimizing the geometry of plasmonic substrates to improve the sensitivity and reliability of SERS-based sensing platforms.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/5/522surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)inverted-pyramidal gold arrayslocalized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)plasmonic couplingelectromagnetic field simulationfinite element method (FEM)
spellingShingle Yaumalika Arta
Iman Santoso
Hao Chang
Ying-Pin Tsai
Fu-Li Hsiao
Tsung-Shine Ko
Yang-Wei Lin
Numerical Study of Electric Field Enhancement in Inverted-Pyramid Gold Arrays with Tunable Spacing
Photonics
surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)
inverted-pyramidal gold arrays
localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)
plasmonic coupling
electromagnetic field simulation
finite element method (FEM)
title Numerical Study of Electric Field Enhancement in Inverted-Pyramid Gold Arrays with Tunable Spacing
title_full Numerical Study of Electric Field Enhancement in Inverted-Pyramid Gold Arrays with Tunable Spacing
title_fullStr Numerical Study of Electric Field Enhancement in Inverted-Pyramid Gold Arrays with Tunable Spacing
title_full_unstemmed Numerical Study of Electric Field Enhancement in Inverted-Pyramid Gold Arrays with Tunable Spacing
title_short Numerical Study of Electric Field Enhancement in Inverted-Pyramid Gold Arrays with Tunable Spacing
title_sort numerical study of electric field enhancement in inverted pyramid gold arrays with tunable spacing
topic surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)
inverted-pyramidal gold arrays
localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)
plasmonic coupling
electromagnetic field simulation
finite element method (FEM)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/5/522
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