Efficient infrared emission from periodically patterned thin metal films on a Si photonic crystal

We have fabricated a periodic array of holes with diameters of a few microns on thin metal films on a Si substrate by using lithographic techniques, and demonstrate that the structures show extraordinary transmission in the infrared spectrum. Our structures become efficient narrow-band infrared thermal emitters when the hole pattern is transferred to the Si substrate by dry etching using the metal as a mask. The influence of the geometrical parameters, like the hole depth and diameter, on the emission spectra was considered in order to optimize the optical properties. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.