Preparation and characterization of two-dimensional metallic nanoparticle and void films derived from a colloidal template layer.

A novel and simple bottom-up fabrication method for the realization of metallic nanovoid and metallic film on nanoparticle (dome) array is presented and their optical performance assessed based on experimental and theoretical investigations. The structures are created by a simple, annealing induced replica formation of a template monolayer, which is composed of submicron particles deposited on top of a thin polymer film. Angle and wavelength dependent reflection measurements indicate the possibility to excite Bragg plasmons at the prepared structures. We found an excellent agreement between the measured and simulated reflection curves, but only when the simulated reflection was averaged over several possible azimuthal lattice orientations of the hexagonal unit cell with respect to the plane of incidence.