Editing Plasmon (section)

== Possible applications ==
The position and intensity of plasmon absorption and emission peaks are affected by molecular [[adsorption]], which can be used in [[molecular sensor]]s. For example, a fully operational device detecting [[casein]] in milk has been prototyped, based on detecting a change in [[absorption (electromagnetic radiation)|absorption]] of a gold layer.<ref>
{{cite journal
 |last=Heip |first=H. M.
 |display-authors=etal
 |date=2007
 |title=A localized surface plasmon resonance based immunosensor for the detection of casein in milk
 |journal=Science and Technology of Advanced Materials
 |volume=8 |issue= 4|pages=331–338
 |bibcode= 2007STAdM...8..331M
 |doi=10.1016/j.stam.2006.12.010
|s2cid=136613827
 |doi-access=free
 }}</ref> Localized surface plasmons of metal nanoparticles can be used for sensing different types of molecules, proteins, etc.

Plasmons are being considered as a means of transmitting information on [[Microprocessor|computer chips]], since plasmons can support much higher frequencies (into the 100&nbsp;[[Terahertz (unit)|THz]] range, whereas conventional wires become very lossy in the tens of [[GHz]]). However, for plasmon-based electronics to be practical, a plasmon-based amplifier analogous to the [[transistor]], called a [[plasmonstor]], needs to be created.<ref>
{{cite journal
 |date=2007
 |title=The Promise of Plasmonics
 |journal=SPIE Professional
 |doi=10.1117/2.4200707.07
 |last1= Lewotsky
 |first1= Kristin
}}</ref>

Plasmons have also been [[Plasmonic nanolithography|proposed]] as a means of high-resolution [[Photolithography|lithography]] and microscopy due to their extremely small wavelengths; both of these applications have seen successful demonstrations in the lab environment.

Finally, surface plasmons have the unique capacity to confine light to very small dimensions, which could enable many new applications.

Surface plasmons are very sensitive to the properties of the materials on which they propagate. This has led to their use to measure the thickness of monolayers on [[colloid]] films, such as screening and quantifying [[protein]] binding events. Companies such as [[Biacore]] have commercialized instruments that operate on these principles.  Optical surface plasmons are being investigated with a view to improve makeup by [[L'Oréal]] and others.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.loreal.com/_en/_ww/loreal-art-science/2004winners.aspx?#part2
 |title=The L'Oréal Art & Science of Color Prize – 7th Prize Winners
}}</ref>

In 2009, a Korean research team found a way to greatly improve [[organic light-emitting diode]] efficiency with the use of plasmons.<ref>
{{cite web
 |date        = 9 July 2009
 |url         = http://www.kaist.edu/english/01_about/06_news_01.php?req_P=bv&req_BIDX=10&req_BNM=ed_news&pt=17&req_VI=2181
 |title       = Prof. Choi Unveils Method to Improve Emission Efficiency of OLED
 |publisher   = [[KAIST]]
 
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110718022905/http://www.kaist.edu/english/01_about/06_news_01.php?req_P=bv&req_BIDX=10&req_BNM=ed_news&pt=17&req_VI=2181
 |archive-date = 18 July 2011
}}</ref>

A group of European researchers led by [[IMEC]] began work to improve [[solar cell]] efficiencies and costs through incorporation of metallic nanostructures (using plasmonic effects) that can enhance absorption of light into different types of solar cells: crystalline silicon (c-Si), high-performance III-V, organic, and dye-sensitized.<ref>{{cite web
 |date        = 30 March 2010
 |title       = EU partners eye metallic nanostructures for solar cells
 |url         = http://www.electroiq.com/index/display/photovoltaics-article-display/1202724884/articles/Photovoltaics-World/industry-news/2010/march/eu-partners_eye_metallic.html
 |publisher   = [[ElectroIQ]]
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110308090541/http://www.electroiq.com/index/display/photovoltaics-article-display/1202724884/articles/Photovoltaics-World/industry-news/2010/march/eu-partners_eye_metallic.html
 |archive-date = 8 March 2011
}}</ref> However, for plasmonic [[photovoltaic]] devices to function optimally, ultra-thin [[transparent conducting oxide]]s are necessary.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Jephias Gwamuri |author2=Ankit Vora |author3=Rajendra R. Khanal |author4=Adam B. Phillips |author5=Michael J. Heben |author6=Durdu O. Guney |author7=Paul Bergstrom |author8=Anand Kulkarni |author9=Joshua M. Pearce |title=Limitations of ultra-thin transparent conducting oxides for integration into plasmonic-enhanced thin-film solar photovoltaic devices|journal=Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy|date=2015|volume=4|issue=12|doi=10.1007/s40243-015-0055-8 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2015MRSE....4...12G }}</ref>
Full color [[holograms]] using ''plasmonics''<ref name=Kawata2012>{{cite web|last=Kawata|first=Satoshi|title=New technique lights up the creation of holograms|url=http://phys.org/news/2012-03-technique-creation-holograms.html|publisher=Phys.org|access-date=24 September 2013}}</ref> have been demonstrated.