Metal-dielectric-metal based narrow band absorber for sensing applications.

We have investigated numerically the narrowband absorption property of a metal-dielectric-metal based structure which includes a top metallic nanoring arrays, a metal backed plate, and a middle dielectric spacer. Its absorption is up to 90% with linewidth narrower than 10 nm. This can be explained in terms of surface lattice resonance of the periodic structure. The spectrum with the sharp absorption dip, i.e. the lattice resonance, strongly depends on the refractive index of media surrounding the nanorings. This feature can be explored to devise a refractive index sensor, of which the bulk sensitivity factor is one order larger than that based on gap resonance mode, while the surface sensitivity factor can be two times larger. The proposed narrowband absorber has potential in applications of plasmonic biosensors.