Plasmonic assisted mid-IR light trapping using 1D grating structures patterned in Ga-ZnO is demonstrated. FDTD simulations of these structures with proper grating period and depth show the light trapping into a resonant mode resulting in a close to 100% reflection dip in the 4-8 µm wavelength regime. The 1D grating structures of different periods are fabricated using standard photolithography followed by etching. The resonant reflection dips in the experimentally measured spectra well agree with the FDTD simulation, exhibiting light trapping in the mid-IR as predicted.

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Shivashankar R. Vangala, Nima Nader, Justin W. Cleary, Junpeng Guo, Kevin D. Leedy, and Joshua R. Hendrickson, "Perfect light trapping in mid-IR using patterned ZnO structures (Presentation Recording)," Proc. SPIE 9547, Plasmonics: Metallic Nanostructures and Their Optical Properties XIII, 95471N (Presented at SPIE Nanoscience + Engineering: August 12, 2015; Published: 5 October 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2189072.4519370326001.