Enhanced magneto-optical activity of Au nanostructures: A novel transducer platform for chemical sensing

In this work, for the first time, Au nanostructures are investigated in a transverse magneto-optical (MO) configuration coupled to a Kretschmann experimental setup; a sizable MO activity can be recognized by using an external magnetic field of low intensity. Modelling tools are used to predict and realize a proper design of the investigated materials tailored on the nanoscale. Optical and morphological properties will be correlated with functional properties of the realized Au nanostructured deposited on glass substrates nanostructures by showing that the recorded MO signal can be used as a novel transducer probe for refractive index sensing. A comparison between “standard” plasmonic detection techniques and the proposed magneto-plasmonic detection demonstrates a significant increase in the sensing performance of this new transductor with respect to standard plasmonic transducers.