Size-dependent coupling between localized surface plasmons and excitons in silicon nitride matrix.

The size-dependent coupling between localized surface plasmons (LSPs) and excitons within a silicon nitride (SiN(x)) matrix is investigated. A strong correlation between the photoluminescence (PL) enhancement and this resonance coupling is observed. From the analysis of the relationship between the dipolar resonance peaks of Ag nanostructures with various sizes and those of PL enhancement, we ascribe the enhancement of PL from the SiN(x) matrix by the addition of Ag nanostructures mainly to the LSP resonance coupling.