Improved infrared absorption can be important in a variety of applications including infrared absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and in the development of image sensors for the infrared region. Infrared absorption can be enhanced by nano structured metal surfaces which create a localized surface plasmon resonance concentrating an electromagnetic field in the substance being analyzed. This technique, is used for example in surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) which provides metallic structures produced lithographically (for example, using integrated circuit techniques) or may use nano-sized dispersed particles.
UW-Madison researchers have designed an improved infrared absorber using significantly larger, micron-sized (>1000 nm), metallic cuboids that exhibit improved field coupling for enhanced infrared spectrography or imaging.