Title: Advanced engineering of single-crystal gold nanoantennas,
Abstract: A nanofabrication process for realizing optical nanoantennas carved from a
single-crystal gold plate is presented in this communication. The method relies
on synthesizing two-dimensional micron-size gold crystals followed by the dry
etching of a desired antenna layout. The fabrication of single-crystal optical
nanoantennas with standard electron-beam lithography tool and dry etching
reactor represents an alternative technological solution to focused ion beam
milling of the objects. The process is exemplified by engineering nanorod
antennas. Dark-field spectroscopy indicates that optical antennas produced from
single crystal flakes have reduced localized surface plasmon resonance losses
compared to amorphous designs of similar shape. The present process is easily
applicable to other metals such as silver or copper and offers a design
flexibility not found in crystalline particles synthesized by colloidal
chemistry.