Crystalline metal flakes: Platforms for advanced plasmonics and hybrid 2D material architectures

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Boroviks, Sergejs, Zavatski, Siarhei, Feichtner, Thorsten, Huang, Jer-Shing, Martin, Olivier J. F., Hecht, Bert, Mortensen, N. Asger
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Boroviks, Sergejs
Zavatski, Siarhei
Feichtner, Thorsten
Huang, Jer-Shing
Martin, Olivier J. F.
Hecht, Bert
Mortensen, N. Asger
author_facet Boroviks, Sergejs
Zavatski, Siarhei
Feichtner, Thorsten
Huang, Jer-Shing
Martin, Olivier J. F.
Hecht, Bert
Mortensen, N. Asger
contents Crystalline noble metal flakes are emerging as versatile platforms in nanophotonics, enabling a broad range of optical phenomena and applications. Their atomically flat surfaces, high crystallinity, and superior optical quality open new avenues in advanced plasmonics, quantum light generation, and hybrid photonic systems. In contrast to conventional polycrystalline metal films, which typically suffer from higher optical losses due to grain boundaries, surface roughness, and structural disorder, these monocrystalline flakes provide minimal scattering and enhanced performance. They serve as templates for precise nanostructuring through techniques like focused-ion beam (FIB) milling and are crucial for advanced applications in sensing and optoelectronics. Additionally, they facilitate frontier research in quantum plasmonics, enabling fundamental studies of nonlocal optical effects and the generation of nonclassical light. Furthermore, the well-defined $\{111\}$ facets of these flakes host Tamm--Shockley surface states that support 2D plasmons coexisting with bulk modes. At near-infrared wavelengths and beyond, crystalline flakes act as nearly ideal metallic mirrors, featuring surface roughness limited only to atomic terrace steps, making them highly suitable for integration with 2D materials in hybrid photonic architectures. This review surveys the key roles these flakes play, highlighting recent developments and discussing future prospects while emphasizing their unique benefits in addressing fundamental and applied challenges in modern nanophotonics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_22988
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Crystalline metal flakes: Platforms for advanced plasmonics and hybrid 2D material architectures
Boroviks, Sergejs
Zavatski, Siarhei
Feichtner, Thorsten
Huang, Jer-Shing
Martin, Olivier J. F.
Hecht, Bert
Mortensen, N. Asger
Optics
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Other Condensed Matter
Crystalline noble metal flakes are emerging as versatile platforms in nanophotonics, enabling a broad range of optical phenomena and applications. Their atomically flat surfaces, high crystallinity, and superior optical quality open new avenues in advanced plasmonics, quantum light generation, and hybrid photonic systems. In contrast to conventional polycrystalline metal films, which typically suffer from higher optical losses due to grain boundaries, surface roughness, and structural disorder, these monocrystalline flakes provide minimal scattering and enhanced performance. They serve as templates for precise nanostructuring through techniques like focused-ion beam (FIB) milling and are crucial for advanced applications in sensing and optoelectronics. Additionally, they facilitate frontier research in quantum plasmonics, enabling fundamental studies of nonlocal optical effects and the generation of nonclassical light. Furthermore, the well-defined $\{111\}$ facets of these flakes host Tamm--Shockley surface states that support 2D plasmons coexisting with bulk modes. At near-infrared wavelengths and beyond, crystalline flakes act as nearly ideal metallic mirrors, featuring surface roughness limited only to atomic terrace steps, making them highly suitable for integration with 2D materials in hybrid photonic architectures. This review surveys the key roles these flakes play, highlighting recent developments and discussing future prospects while emphasizing their unique benefits in addressing fundamental and applied challenges in modern nanophotonics.
title Crystalline metal flakes: Platforms for advanced plasmonics and hybrid 2D material architectures
topic Optics
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Other Condensed Matter
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.22988