. 2015 Feb 3;2(3):326–333. doi: 10.1021/ph5004237

Table 1. Percentage Increase in the Figures-of-Merit for Al, Cu, Au, and Ag at Ultraviolet (280 nm), Visible (650 nm), near-Infrared (1000 nm), and Telecommunication (1550 nm) Wavelengths^a.

		increase over standard references^23,24
wavelength regime	metal	Q_LSPR (%)	Q_SPP (%)	L_SPP (μm)
ultraviolet (280 nm)	Al	11	–12	2.5
visible (650 nm)	Ag	200	250	84
	Cu	120	130	24
	Au	32	38	20
near-infrared (1000 nm)	Ag	160	200	340
	Cu	100	93	190
	Au	51	61	190
telecom (1550 nm)	Ag	270	480	1200
	Cu	140	120	820
	Au	81	95	730

The increase is based on comparison to Palik²³ (Cu, Au, and Ag) and Rakić²⁴ (Al). The quality factors²⁶ for localized surface plasmon resonances (Q_LSPR) and surface plasmon polaritons (Q_SPP) are shown along with the calculated surface plasmon propagation lengths (L_SPP) based on the measured dielectric functions of the recipe films. Specifically, the films were deposited under the conditions detailed in Figure 2. Very similar films could be obtained over a range of conditions, as described in the text.

Table 1. Percentage Increase in the Figures-of-Merit for Al, Cu, Au, and Ag at Ultraviolet (280 nm), Visible (650 nm), near-Infrared (1000 nm), and Telecommunication (1550 nm) Wavelengthsa.

Table 1. Percentage Increase in the Figures-of-Merit for Al, Cu, Au, and Ag at Ultraviolet (280 nm), Visible (650 nm), near-Infrared (1000 nm), and Telecommunication (1550 nm) Wavelengths^a.