Aluminum: A qualified material for Tamm plasmon polariton in visible band

B Bobo Du J Jingmin Zhou (Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Fudan University) J Jinxian Lu (Key Laboratory of Physical Electronics and Devices of Ministry of Education & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Information Photonic Technique, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University 1 , Xi'an 710049,) X Xiaokang Li (Key Laboratory of Light Field Manipulation and Information Acquisition of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Optical Information Technology, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University 2 , Xi'an 710129,) K Kangzhe Zhao (Key Laboratory of Light Field Manipulation and Information Acquisition of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Optical Information Technology, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University 2 , Xi'an 710129,) Q Qifa Wang (Key Laboratory of Light Field Manipulation and Information Acquisition of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Optical Information Technology, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University 2 , Xi'an 710129,) Y Yaping Hou F Fajun Xiao (Key Laboratory of Light Field Manipulation and Information Acquisition of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Optical Information Technology, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University 2 , Xi'an 710129,) D Dexing Yang (Key Laboratory of Light Field Manipulation and Information Acquisition of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Optical Information Technology, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University 2 , Xi'an 710129,) H Hua Lu (Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering) Z Zhaoyang Zhang Y Yanpeng Zhang L Lei Zhang

Abstract

Tamm plasmon polariton (TPP) is a cavity mode confined in a multilayer structure consisting of a distributed Bragg reflector and a metallic layer. It can be excited with varied polarizations and any angle of incidence, attracting significantly growing attention recently. To date, the majority of TPP structures are constructed with gold or silver. The qualification of aluminum as an alternative material for TPP mode is pending. Here, we show that it is possible to realize comparable characteristics with aluminum (Al)-based TPP structures, in terms of spectral behavior, quality factor (Q-factor), and electric field enhancement. Experimentally, we demonstrate that Al is qualified for the TPP mode with an exceptionally narrow linewidth (∼17 nm), high Q-factor (∼35.8), and moderate field enhancement (2.38-fold) in the visible band. Moreover, we found that Al-based TPP structures are more tolerant to polarization divergences (with a polarization splitting of only 11 nm at the incidence angle of 50°) compared to noble metal counterparts. This work paves the way toward the usage of Al as a viable and low-cost material for TPP devices beyond noble metals.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 6
Published August 11, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (13)

B

Bobo Du

J

Jingmin Zhou

Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Fudan University

J

Jinxian Lu

Key Laboratory of Physical Electronics and Devices of Ministry of Education & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Information Photonic Technique, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University 1 , Xi'an 710049,

X

Xiaokang Li

Key Laboratory of Light Field Manipulation and Information Acquisition of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Optical Information Technology, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University 2 , Xi'an 710129,

K

Kangzhe Zhao

Key Laboratory of Light Field Manipulation and Information Acquisition of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Optical Information Technology, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University 2 , Xi'an 710129,

Q

Qifa Wang

Key Laboratory of Light Field Manipulation and Information Acquisition of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Optical Information Technology, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University 2 , Xi'an 710129,

Y

Yaping Hou

F

Fajun Xiao

Key Laboratory of Light Field Manipulation and Information Acquisition of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Optical Information Technology, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University 2 , Xi'an 710129,

D

Dexing Yang

Key Laboratory of Light Field Manipulation and Information Acquisition of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Optical Information Technology, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University 2 , Xi'an 710129,

H

Hua Lu

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering

Z

Zhaoyang Zhang

Y

Yanpeng Zhang

L

Lei Zhang