Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 253110 (2013)

Graphene-based metamaterials are promising for developing new approaches to efficiently control terahertz (THz) and infrared radiation. Two Japanese researchers, Atsushi Ishikawa (RIKEN) and Takuo Tanaka (Hokkaido University), have now experimentally and computationally investigated the THz plasmonic responses of structured graphene. Specifically, they analysed plasmon hybridization in a silicon oxide layer sandwiched between two graphene ribbons. The researchers produced this system by fabricating a single graphene ribbon on a thermally oxidized silicon oxide layer formed on a heavily doped p-type silicon substrate. The high reflectivity of the silicon substrate effectively generated a mirror image of the structure. This configuration greatly simplifies the experimental study of the plasmonic responses of complex hybridized systems. The researchers found qualitative agreement between experimental and numerical simulation results, demonstrating the important resonant behaviour of structured graphene and hybridized systems. They believe that this approach could be extended to more complex systems, making it promising for investigating and designing graphene-based THz and optoelectronic devices.