Photoresponse in low dimensional metals

Photothermal or photovoltaic processes in a material leads to an electrical response. Typically, semiconductors and their devices produce a significant photoresponse and has been investigated widely. Photoreponse from metals on the other hand, is rare in a few cases where optical absorption leads to a bolometric response. Here, we will show that the photoresponse from the nanostructured metals is more ubiquitous than predicted before. We demonstrate that a single nanowire and networked formed by them exhibits a significant photoresponse thanks to the plasmon assisted bolometric effect. The responsivity is as large as silicon pn junctions at moderate laser intensities. We will also show that there are other such metallic nanostructures that exhibit similar photoresponse and they can be used in detection of certain molecules selectively.