Graphene plasmonics

Two rich and vibrant fields of investigation—graphene physics and plasmonics—strongly overlap. Not only does graphene possess intrinsic plasmons that are tunable and adjustable, but a combination of graphene with noble-metal nanostructures promises a variety of exciting applications for conventional plasmonics. The versatility of graphene means that graphene-based plasmonics may enable the manufacture of novel optical devices working in different frequency ranges—from terahertz to the visible—with extremely high speed, low driving voltage, low power consumption and compact sizes. Here we review the field emerging at the intersection of graphene physics and plasmonics. Many researchers hope to merge plasmonics and graphene photonics to combine their useful features. The properties and characteristics of plasmons on graphene are reviewed. Prospects for possible future applications are discussed.