We report a metal-dielectric planar structure which provides high efficiency coupling of fluorescence at distances over 100 nm away from the metal surface. This hybrid metal-dielectric waveguide (MDW) consists of a continuous metal film coated with a dielectric layer. We observed efficient long-range coupling of Rhodamine B on top of a 130 nm layer of silica resulting in a narrow angular distribution of the emission. The high efficiency radiation through the Ag film appears to be due to coupling of the fluorophore to an optical waveguide mode with a long propagation length and a narrow resonance. The results were consistent with simulations. These multi-layer structures can be made using vapor deposition and/or spin coating and the silica surface can be used for conjugation to biomolecules and surface-selective detection. This simple hybrid metal-dielectric structures provides new opportunities for fluorescence sensing, genomics, proteomics and diagnostics.
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