Embedded branch-like organic/metal nanowire heterostructures: liquid-phase synthesis, efficient photon-plasmon coupling, and optical signal manipulation.

A novel approach to manipulating multiple optical signals at subwavelength scale is proposed in dendritic organic/metal nanowire heterostructures. The heterostructures are prepared by embedding Ag nanowires in fac-tris(2-phenylpyridine) iridium microwires during the self-assembly in liquid phase. Optical signals inputted from the organic waveguide can be selectively transferred to the predetermined subwavelength output ports based on the angular dependence of the photon-plasmon coupling.