The diploma thesis is aimed to excitation and detection of surface plasmon polaritons by visible light. First of all, we will briefly remind some basic principles like waves, electromagnetic wave, light on the interface and optical properties of metals. By using these principles we show presence of surface plasmon polaritons states. After the explanation of their properties there will be clearly visible reasons for aplications of the special excitationand detection methods. We will describe especially the prism coupling, periodic grating coupling and SNOM. Two last sections deal with computer simulations and experiments related to these methods. This means we can exemplify some knowledge presented in previous chapters. Results of simulations are compared with the experiment where we study the excitations of surface plasmon polaritons by periodic grating on aluminium surface.

The diploma thesis deals with plasmonic nanostructures for visible eventually near-infrared region of electromagnetic spectrum. At first, there are discussed basic terms which are necessary for description of plasmonic nanostructures and their properties. Then the resonant properties of gold nanoantennas on a fused silica substrate and in proximity of nanocrystalline diamond are addressed. FDTD simulations are used for an assesment of resonant properties and local electric field enhancement of these nanostructures. Possible manufacturing methods of the antennas and techniques for the measurement of their properties are mentioned at the end of the thesis.

Far-field optical spectroscopy allows for measurement of plasmonic resonances on metallic nanostructures of various shapes and sizes when illuminated by continuous light. Employing dark-field microscopy makes it possible to measure scattering on a localised plasmon excited on a single, isolated nanostructure. For the purpose of these measurements an apparatus based on commercial dual microscope system Nanonics has been put together. Experiments carried out during work on this thesis have shown a great sensitivity of the apparatus in its present form, allowing to measure a plasmonic resonance of a single nanoparticle. Proposed improvements of the apparatus should lead to even greater sensitivity and precision of measurements in the near future.

Two rich and vibrant fields of investigation - graphene and plasmonics - strongly overlap in this work, giving rise to a novel hybrid photodetection device. The intrinsic photoresponse of graphene is significantly enhanced by placing the gold nanorods exhibiting unique anisotropic localized surface plasmon resonances on the graphene surface. The reported enhanced photoresponse of graphene is caused by the redistribution of localized surface plasmons in the nanoparticles into graphene. The exact underlying energy redistribution mechanism is thoroughly studied by a single particle scattering spectroscopy monitoring the particle plasmon linewidth as a function of the number of underlaying graphene layers. The obtained extraordinary plasmon broadening for nanoparticles placed on graphene suggests the contribution of a novel energy redistribution channel attributed to the injection of hot electrons from gold nanorods into graphene.

Plazmonika, tedy vědní obor zabývající se interakcí světla s kovovými materiály, nabízí ve spojení s nanotechnologiemi nezvyklé možnosti, jak světlo ovládat a využívat. Výsledkem tohoto spojení může být například zaostřování světla pod difrakční limit, zesilování emise nebo absorbce kvantových zářičů, či extrémně citlivá detekce molekul. Tato práce se zabývá zejména možnostmi využití plazmoniky pro vývoj plošných optických prvků, tzv. metapovrchů, a pro fotokatalytické aplikace založené na plazmonicky generovaných elektronech s vysokou energií, tzv. horkých elektronech. Nejprve jsou vysvětleny teoretické základy plazmoniky a je poskytnut přehled jejích nejvýznamnějších aplikací. Poté jsou představeny tři studie zabývající se využitím plazmonických nanostruktur pro ovládání fáze a polarizace světla, pro vytváření dynamicky laditelných metapovrchů, a pro foto-elektrochemii s horkými elektrony. Společným prvkem těchto studií je pak používání pokročilých, resp. v rámci těchto oblastí netradičních, materiálů, jako např. oxidu vanadičitého nebo dichalkogenidů přechodných kovů.