The use of plasmonic effects over a broad range of electromagnetic spectrum has been a challenge over the first few decades of research due to limited number of available materials. Recently, the efforts in the area has been concentrated on identifying and examining new material classes as the building blocks for optical technologies over a broader electromagnetic spectrum. Transition metal nitrides attract attention as plasmonic materials in the visible and infrared spectral regions with optical properties resembling gold. As refractory materials, nitrides can withstand heat induced physical phenomena as well as aggressive chemical environment. Adjustable dielectric permittivity of plasmonic nitrides allow fine tuning of optical properties for selected applications. In addition to favorable optical, physical and chemical properties; transition metal nitrides provide CMOS- and bio-compatibility. In this talk, novel designs and concepts based on refractory plasmonic materials for infrared applications will be presented. Additionally, light confinement at the nanoscale with refractory plasmonic antennas, spectral engineering of absorption and emission with metamaterials, and the use of colloidal solutions for a variety of applications will be discussed.
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