Plasmonic nanorod metamaterials for biosensing.

Plasmonic biosensors are either based on freely propagating surface plasmons or plasmons localized at nanostructures. Despite advantages such as quantitative detection, localized surface-plasmon sensors have shown lower overall sensitivities. A nanorod metamaterial supporting new plasmonic modes is now shown to considerably outperform earlier plasmonic biosensors by combining and expanding their respective advantages.