Boosted photocatalytic efficiency through plasmonic field confinement with bowtie and diabolo nanostructures under LED irradiation.

Photoresist and electron beam lithography techniques were used to fabricate embedded Ag bowtie and diabolo nanostructures with various apex angles on the surface of a TiO film. The reinforced localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and electric field generated at both the Ag/TiO and air/TiO interfaces enabled high light absorbance in the TiO nanostructure. Results for both the bowtie and diabolo nanostructures showed that a reduction in the apex angle enhances both LSPR and Raman intensity.