1
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Pei Q, Zheng X, Tan J, Luo Y, Ye S. Probing the Local Near-Field Intensity of Plasmonic Nanoparticles in the Mid-infrared Spectral Region. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:5390-5396. [PMID: 38739421 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
The enhanced local field of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in mid-infrared spectral regions is essential for improving the detection sensitivity of vibrational spectroscopy and mediating photochemical reactions. However, it is still challenging to measure its intensity at subnanometer scales. Here, using the NO2 symmetric stretching mode (νNO2) of self-assembled 4-nitrothiophenol (4-NTP) monolayers on AuNPs as a model, we demonstrated that the percentage of excited νNO2 mode, determined by femtosecond time-resolved sum-frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy, allows us to directly detect the local field intensity of the AuNP surface in subnanometer ranges. The local-field intensity is tuned by AuNP diameters. An approximate 17-fold enhancement was observed for the local field on 80 nm AuNPs compared to the Au film. Additionally, the local field can regulate the anharmonicity of the νNO2 mode by synergistic effect with molecular orientation. This work offers a promising approach to probe the local field intensity distribution around plasmonic NP surfaces at subnanometer scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanbing Pei
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Zheng
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Junjun Tan
- Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230088, China
| | - Yi Luo
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
- Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230088, China
| | - Shuji Ye
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
- Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230088, China
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2
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Huang G, Liu K, Shi G, Guo Q, Li X, Liu Z, Ma W, Wang T. Elevating Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption with Quantum Mechanical Effects of Plasmonic Nanocavities. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:6083-6090. [PMID: 35866846 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c01042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plasmonic nanocavities, with the ability to localize and concentrate light into nanometer-scale dimensions, have been widely used for ultrasensitive spectroscopy, biosensing, and photodetection. However, as the nanocavity gap approaches the subnanometer length scale, plasmonic enhancement, together with plasmonic enhanced optical processes, turns to quenching because of quantum mechanical effects. Here, instead of quenching, we show that quantum mechanical effects of plasmonic nanocavities can elevate surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) of molecular moieties. The plasmonic nanocavities, nanojunctions of gold and cadmium oxide nanoparticles, support prominent mid-infrared plasmonic resonances and enable SEIRA of an alkanethiol monolayer (CH3(CH2)n-1SH, n = 3-16). With a subnanometer cavity gap (n < 6), plasmonic resonances turn to blue shift and the SEIRA signal starts a pronounced increase, benefiting from the quantum tunneling effect across the plasmonic nanocavities. Our findings demonstrate the new possibility of optimizing the field enhancement and SEIRA sensitivity of mid-infrared plasmonic nanocavities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyan Huang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Kaizhen Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Guangyi Shi
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Qianqian Guo
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Xiang Li
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Zeke Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Wanli Ma
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Tao Wang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, P.R. China
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3
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Li D, Zhou H, Hui X, He X, Huang H, Zhang J, Mu X, Lee C, Yang Y. Multifunctional Chemical Sensing Platform Based on Dual-Resonant Infrared Plasmonic Perfect Absorber for On-Chip Detection of Poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate). ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2101879. [PMID: 34423591 PMCID: PMC8529490 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202101879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Multifunctional chemical sensing is highly desirable in industry, agriculture, and environmental sciences, but remains challenging due to the diversity of chemical substances and reactions. Surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy can potentially address the above problems by ultra-sensitive detection of molecular fingerprint vibrations. Here, a multifunctional chemical sensing platform based on dual-resonant SEIRA device for sensitive and multifunctional on-chip detection of poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) (PECA) is reported. It is experimentally demonstrated that the SEIRA sensing platform achieves multiple functions required by the PECA glue industry, including vibrational detection, thickness measurement, and in situ observation of polymerization and curing, which are usually realized by separately using a spectrometer, a viscometer, and an ellipsometer in the past. Specifically, the all-in-one sensor offers a dual-band fingerprint vibration identification, sub-nm level detection limit, and ultrahigh sensitivity of 0.76%/nm in thickness measurement, and second-level resolution in real-time observation of polymerization and curing. This work not only provides a valuable toolkit for ultra-sensitive and multifunctional on-chip detection of PECA, but also gives new insights into the SEIRA technology for multi-band, multi-functional, and on-chip chemical sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology & Systems of Ministry of EducationInternational R & D center of Micro‐nano Systems and New Materials TechnologyChongqing UniversityChongqing400044P. R. China
- CAS Center for Excellence in NanoscienceBeijing Key Laboratory of Micro‐nano Energy and SensorBeijing Institute of Nanoenergy and NanosystemsChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100083P. R. China
| | - Hong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology & Systems of Ministry of EducationInternational R & D center of Micro‐nano Systems and New Materials TechnologyChongqing UniversityChongqing400044P. R. China
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringCenter for Intelligent Sensors and MEMS (CISM)and NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and EngineeringNational University of SingaporeSingapore117576Singapore
| | - Xindan Hui
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology & Systems of Ministry of EducationInternational R & D center of Micro‐nano Systems and New Materials TechnologyChongqing UniversityChongqing400044P. R. China
| | - Xianming He
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology & Systems of Ministry of EducationInternational R & D center of Micro‐nano Systems and New Materials TechnologyChongqing UniversityChongqing400044P. R. China
| | - He Huang
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology & Systems of Ministry of EducationInternational R & D center of Micro‐nano Systems and New Materials TechnologyChongqing UniversityChongqing400044P. R. China
| | - Jiajia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology & Systems of Ministry of EducationInternational R & D center of Micro‐nano Systems and New Materials TechnologyChongqing UniversityChongqing400044P. R. China
| | - Xiaojing Mu
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology & Systems of Ministry of EducationInternational R & D center of Micro‐nano Systems and New Materials TechnologyChongqing UniversityChongqing400044P. R. China
| | - Chengkuo Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringCenter for Intelligent Sensors and MEMS (CISM)and NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and EngineeringNational University of SingaporeSingapore117576Singapore
| | - Ya Yang
- CAS Center for Excellence in NanoscienceBeijing Key Laboratory of Micro‐nano Energy and SensorBeijing Institute of Nanoenergy and NanosystemsChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100083P. R. China
- School of Nanoscience and TechnologyUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049P. R. China
- Center on Nanoenergy ResearchSchool of Physical Science and TechnologyGuangxi UniversityNanning530004P. R. China
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4
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Chuntonov L, Rubtsov IV. Surface-enhanced ultrafast two-dimensional vibrational spectroscopy with engineered plasmonic nano-antennas. J Chem Phys 2020; 153:050902. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0013956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lev Chuntonov
- Schulich Faculty of Chemistry and Solid State Institute, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Igor V. Rubtsov
- Department of Chemistry, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, USA
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5
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Observation of Wavelength-Dependent Quantum Plasmon Tunneling with Varying the Thickness of Graphene Spacer. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1199. [PMID: 30718711 PMCID: PMC6362230 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37882-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmonic coupling provides a highly localized electromagnetic field in the gap of noble metals when illuminated by a light. The plasmonic field enhancement is generally known to be inversely proportional to the gap distance. Given such a relation, reducing the gap distance appears to be necessary to achieve the highest possible field enhancement. At the sub-nanometer scale, however, quantum mechanical effects have to be considered in relation to plasmonic coupling. Here, we use graphene as a spacer to observe plasmonic field enhancement in sub-nanometer gap. The gap distance is precisely controlled by the number of stacked graphene layers. We propose that the sudden drop of field enhancement for the single layer spacer is originated from the plasmon tunneling through the thin spacer. Numerical simulation which incorporates quantum tunneling is also performed to support the experimental results. From the fact that field enhancement with respect to the number of graphene layers exhibits different behavior in two wavelengths corresponding to on- and off-resonance conditions, tunneling phenomenon is thought to destroy the resonance conditions of plasmonic coupling.
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6
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Yang Y, Gu C, Li J. Sub-5 nm Metal Nanogaps: Physical Properties, Fabrication Methods, and Device Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1804177. [PMID: 30589217 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201804177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Sub-5 nm metal nanogaps have attracted widespread attention in physics, chemistry, material sciences, and biology due to their physical properties, including great plasmon-enhanced effects in light-matter interactions and charge tunneling, Coulomb blockade, and the Kondo effect under an electrical stimulus. These properties especially meet the needs of many cutting-edge devices, such as sensing, optical, molecular, and electronic devices. However, fabricating sub-5 nm nanogaps is still challenging at the present, and scaled and reliable fabrication, improved addressability, and multifunction integration are desired for further applications in commercial devices. The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive overview of sub-5 nm nanogaps and to present recent advancements in metal nanogaps, including their physical properties, fabrication methods, and device applications, with the ultimate aim to further inspire scientists and engineers in their research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Changzhi Gu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Junjie Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523808, China
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7
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Chen C, Mohr DA, Choi HK, Yoo D, Li M, Oh SH. Waveguide-Integrated Compact Plasmonic Resonators for On-Chip Mid-Infrared Laser Spectroscopy. NANO LETTERS 2018; 18:7601-7608. [PMID: 30216715 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b03156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The integration of nanoplasmonic devices with a silicon photonic platform affords a new approach for efficient light delivery by combining the high field enhancement of plasmonics and the ultralow propagation loss of dielectric waveguides. Such a hybrid integration obviates the need for a bulky free-space optics setup and can lead to fully integrated, on-chip optical sensing systems. Here, we demonstrate ultracompact plasmonic resonators directly patterned atop a silicon waveguide for mid-infrared spectroscopic chemical sensing. The footprint of the plasmonic nanorod resonators is as small as 2 μm2, yet they can couple with the mid-infrared waveguide mode efficiently. The plasmonic resonance is directly measured through the transmission spectrum of the waveguide with a coupling efficiency greater than 70% and a field intensity enhancement factor of over 3600 relative to the evanescent waveguide field intensity. Using this hybrid device and a tunable mid-infrared laser source, surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy of both a thin poly(methyl methacrylate) film and an octadecanethiol monolayer is successfully demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Chen
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States
| | - Daniel A Mohr
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States
| | - Han-Kyu Choi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States
| | - Daehan Yoo
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States
| | - Mo Li
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States
| | - Sang-Hyun Oh
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States
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8
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Zhang XY, Chen L, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Yang J, Choi HC, Jung YM. Design of tunable ultraviolet (UV) absorbance by controlling the AgAl co-sputtering deposition. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2018; 197:37-42. [PMID: 29277479 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2017.12.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Changing the structure and composition of a material can alter its properties; hence, the controlled fabrication of metal nanostructures plays a key role in a wide range of applications. In this study, the structure of AgAl ordered arrays fabricated by co-sputtering deposition onto a monolayer colloidal crystal significantly increased its ultraviolet (UV) absorbance owing to a tunable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. By increasing the spacing between two nanospheres and the content of aluminum, absorbance in the UV region could be changed from UVA (320-400nm) to UVC (200-275nm), and the LSPR peak in the visible region gradually shifted to the UV region. This provides the potential for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in both the UV and visible regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yuan Zhang
- Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Lei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Physics and Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Normal University, Changchun 130103, PR China; Department of Chemistry, Institute for Molecular Science and Fusion Technology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Yaxin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Physics and Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Normal University, Changchun 130103, PR China
| | - Yongjun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Physics and Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Normal University, Changchun 130103, PR China
| | - Jinghai Yang
- Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China; Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Physics and Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Normal University, Changchun 130103, PR China.
| | - Hyun Chul Choi
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Mee Jung
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Molecular Science and Fusion Technology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Chong X, Zhang Y, Li E, Kim KJ, Ohodnicki PR, Chang CH, Wang AX. Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption: Pushing the Frontier for On-Chip Gas Sensing. ACS Sens 2018; 3:230-238. [PMID: 29262684 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.7b00891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) is capable of identifying molecular fingerprints by resonant detection of infrared vibrational modes through the coupling with plasmonic modes of metallic nanostructures. However, SEIRA for on-chip gas sensing is still not very successful due to the intrinsically weak light-matter interaction between photons and gas molecules and the technical challenges in accumulating sufficient gas species in the vicinity of the spatially localized enhanced electric field, namely, the "hot-spots", generated through plasmonics. In this paper, we present a suspended silicon nitride (Si3N4) nanomembrane device by integrating plasmonic nanopatch gold antennas with metal-organic framework (MOF), which can largely adsorb carbon dioxide (CO2) through its nanoporous structure. Unlike conventional SEIRA sensing relying on highly localized hot-spots of plasmonic nanoantennas or nanoparticles, the device reported in this paper engineered the coupled surface plasmon polaritons in the metal-Si3N4 and metal-MOF interfaces to achieve strong optical field enhancement across the entire MOF film. We successfully demonstrated on-chip gas sensing of CO2 with more than 1800× enhancement factors by combining the concentration effect from the 2.7 μm MOF thin film and the optical field enhancement of the plasmonic nanopatch antennas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ki-Joong Kim
- National Energy Technology Lab, United States Department of Energy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236, United States
- AECOM, P.O.
Box 618, South Park, Pennsylvania 15216, United States
| | - Paul R. Ohodnicki
- National Energy Technology Lab, United States Department of Energy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236, United States
- Materials
Science and Engineering Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
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10
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Wu Y, Li G, Camden JP. Probing Nanoparticle Plasmons with Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy. Chem Rev 2017; 118:2994-3031. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yueying Wu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Guoliang Li
- Center for Electron Microscopy, Institute for New Energy Materials and Low-Carbon Technologies, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Jon P. Camden
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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11
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Dong L, Yang X, Zhang C, Cerjan B, Zhou L, Tseng ML, Zhang Y, Alabastri A, Nordlander P, Halas NJ. Nanogapped Au Antennas for Ultrasensitive Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy. NANO LETTERS 2017; 17:5768-5774. [PMID: 28787169 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b02736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy has outstanding potential in chemical detection as a complement to surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), yet it has historically lagged well behind SERS in detection sensitivity. Here we report a new ultrasensitive infrared antenna designed to bring SEIRA spectroscopy into the few-molecule detection range. Our antenna consists of a bowtie-shaped Au structure with a sub-3 nm gap, positioned to create a cavity above a reflective substrate. This three-dimensional geometry tightly confines incident mid-infrared radiation into its ultrasmall junction, yielding a hot spot with a theoretical SEIRA enhancement factor of more than 107, which can be designed to span the range of frequencies useful for SEIRA. We quantitatively evaluated the IR detection limit of this antenna design using mixed monolayers of 4-nitrothiophenol (4-NTP) and 4-methoxythiolphenol (4-MTP). The optimized antenna structure allows the detection of as few as ∼500 molecules of 4-NTP and ∼600 molecules of 4-MTP with a standard commercial FTIR spectrometer. This strategy offers a new platform for analyzing the IR vibrations of minute quantities of molecules and lends insight into the ultimate limit of single-molecule SEIRA detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangliang Dong
- Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, §Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics and the Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University , 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Xiao Yang
- Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, §Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics and the Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University , 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, §Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics and the Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University , 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Benjamin Cerjan
- Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, §Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics and the Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University , 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Linan Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, §Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics and the Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University , 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Ming Lun Tseng
- Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, §Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics and the Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University , 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, §Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics and the Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University , 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Alessandro Alabastri
- Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, §Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics and the Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University , 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Peter Nordlander
- Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, §Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics and the Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University , 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Naomi J Halas
- Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, §Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and ∥Laboratory for Nanophotonics and the Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University , 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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12
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Haase J, Bagiante S, Sigg H, van Bokhoven JA. Surface enhanced infrared absorption of chemisorbed carbon monoxide using plasmonic nanoantennas. OPTICS LETTERS 2017; 42:1931-1934. [PMID: 28504762 DOI: 10.1364/ol.42.001931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We report the enhancement of infrared absorption of chemisorbed carbon monoxide on platinum in the gap of plasmonic nanoantennas. Our method is based on the self-assembled formation of platinum nanoislands on nanoscopic dipole antenna arrays manufactured via electron beam lithography. We employ systematic variations of the plasmonic antenna resonance to precisely couple to the molecular stretch vibration of carbon monoxide adsorbed on the platinum nanoislands. Ultimately, we reach more than 1500-fold infrared absorption enhancements, allowing for an ultrasensitive detection of a monolayer of chemisorbed carbon monoxide. The developed procedure can be adapted to other metal adsorbents and molecular species and could be utilized for coverage sensing in surface catalytic reactions.
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13
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Neubrech F, Huck C, Weber K, Pucci A, Giessen H. Surface-Enhanced Infrared Spectroscopy Using Resonant Nanoantennas. Chem Rev 2017; 117:5110-5145. [PMID: 28358482 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 249] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Infrared spectroscopy is a powerful tool widely used in research and industry for a label-free and unambiguous identification of molecular species. Inconveniently, its application to spectroscopic analysis of minute amounts of materials, for example, in sensing applications, is hampered by the low infrared absorption cross-sections. Surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy using resonant metal nanoantennas, or short "resonant SEIRA", overcomes this limitation. Resonantly excited, such metal nanostructures feature collective oscillations of electrons (plasmons), providing huge electromagnetic fields on the nanometer scale. Infrared vibrations of molecules located in these fields are enhanced by orders of magnitude enabling a spectroscopic characterization with unprecedented sensitivity. In this Review, we introduce the concept of resonant SEIRA and discuss the underlying physics, particularly, the resonant coupling between molecular and antenna excitations as well as the spatial extent of the enhancement and its scaling with frequency. On the basis of these fundamentals, different routes to maximize the SEIRA enhancement are reviewed including the choice of nanostructures geometries, arrangements, and materials. Furthermore, first applications such as the detection of proteins, the monitoring of dynamic processes, and hyperspectral infrared chemical imaging are discussed, demonstrating the sensitivity and broad applicability of resonant SEIRA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Neubrech
- 4th Physics Institute and Research Center SCoPE, University of Stuttgart , Pfaffenwaldring 57, Stuttgart 70569, Germany.,Kirchhoff Institute for Physics, Heidelberg University , Im Neuenheimer Feld 227, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Christian Huck
- Kirchhoff Institute for Physics, Heidelberg University , Im Neuenheimer Feld 227, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Ksenia Weber
- 4th Physics Institute and Research Center SCoPE, University of Stuttgart , Pfaffenwaldring 57, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
| | - Annemarie Pucci
- Kirchhoff Institute for Physics, Heidelberg University , Im Neuenheimer Feld 227, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Harald Giessen
- 4th Physics Institute and Research Center SCoPE, University of Stuttgart , Pfaffenwaldring 57, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
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Zhu W, Esteban R, Borisov AG, Baumberg JJ, Nordlander P, Lezec HJ, Aizpurua J, Crozier KB. Quantum mechanical effects in plasmonic structures with subnanometre gaps. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11495. [PMID: 27255556 PMCID: PMC4895716 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 283] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Metallic structures with nanogap features have proven highly effective as building blocks for plasmonic systems, as they can provide a wide tuning range of operating frequencies and large near-field enhancements. Recent work has shown that quantum mechanical effects such as electron tunnelling and nonlocal screening become important as the gap distances approach the subnanometre length-scale. Such quantum effects challenge the classical picture of nanogap plasmons and have stimulated a number of theoretical and experimental studies. This review outlines the findings of many groups into quantum mechanical effects in nanogap plasmons, and discusses outstanding challenges and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqi Zhu
- Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
- Maryland Nano-Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Ruben Esteban
- Material Physics Center CSIC-UPV/EHU and Donostia International Physics Center DIPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, Donostia-San Sebastián 20018, Spain
| | - Andrei G. Borisov
- Material Physics Center CSIC-UPV/EHU and Donostia International Physics Center DIPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, Donostia-San Sebastián 20018, Spain
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d′Orsay - UMR 8214, CNRS-Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 351, Orsay 91405, France
| | - Jeremy J. Baumberg
- Nanophotonics Centre, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Peter Nordlander
- Department of Physics, MS61, Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| | - Henri J. Lezec
- Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
| | - Javier Aizpurua
- Material Physics Center CSIC-UPV/EHU and Donostia International Physics Center DIPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, Donostia-San Sebastián 20018, Spain
| | - Kenneth B. Crozier
- School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Raza S, Bozhevolnyi SI, Wubs M, Asger Mortensen N. Nonlocal optical response in metallic nanostructures. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2015; 27:183204. [PMID: 25893883 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/27/18/183204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This review provides a broad overview of the studies and effects of nonlocal response in metallic nanostructures. In particular, we thoroughly present the nonlocal hydrodynamic model and the recently introduced generalized nonlocal optical response (GNOR) model. The influence of nonlocal response on plasmonic excitations is studied in key metallic geometries, such as spheres and dimers, and we derive new consequences due to the GNOR model. Finally, we propose several trajectories for future work on nonlocal response, including experimental setups that may unveil further effects of nonlocal response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Søren Raza
- Department of Photonics Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. Center for Nanostructured Graphene (CNG), Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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16
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Brown LV, Yang X, Zhao K, Zheng BY, Nordlander P, Halas NJ. Fan-shaped gold nanoantennas above reflective substrates for surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA). NANO LETTERS 2015; 15:1272-80. [PMID: 25565006 DOI: 10.1021/nl504455s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Here, we report a new nanoantenna for surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) detection, consisting of a fan-shaped Au structure positioned at a well-specified distance above a reflective plane with an intervening silica spacer layer. We examine how to optimize both the antenna dimensions and the spacer layer for optimal SEIRA enhancement of the C-H stretching mode. This tunable 3D geometry yields a theoretical SEIRA enhancement factor of 10(5), corresponding to the experimental detection of 20-200 zeptomoles of octadecanethiol, using a standard commercial FTIR spectrometer. Experimental studies illustrate the sensitivity of the observed SEIRA signal to the gap dimensions. The optimized antenna structure exhibits an order of magnitude greater SEIRA sensitivity than previous record-setting designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa V Brown
- Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, §Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and ⊥Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University , 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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17
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Vogt J, Huck C, Neubrech F, Toma A, Gerbert D, Pucci A. Impact of the plasmonic near- and far-field resonance-energy shift on the enhancement of infrared vibrational signals. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 17:21169-75. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cp04851b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
SEIRA signals have a Fano-type line shape and the enhancement maximum is red shifted compared to the plasmonic far-field resonance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jochen Vogt
- Kirchhoff Institute for Physics
- University of Heidelberg
- 69120 Heidelberg
- Germany
| | - Christian Huck
- Kirchhoff Institute for Physics
- University of Heidelberg
- 69120 Heidelberg
- Germany
| | - Frank Neubrech
- Kirchhoff Institute for Physics
- University of Heidelberg
- 69120 Heidelberg
- Germany
- 4th Physics Institute and Research Center SCoPE
| | - Andrea Toma
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
- 16163 Genova
- Italy
| | - David Gerbert
- Kirchhoff Institute for Physics
- University of Heidelberg
- 69120 Heidelberg
- Germany
- InnovationLab GmbH
| | - Annemarie Pucci
- Kirchhoff Institute for Physics
- University of Heidelberg
- 69120 Heidelberg
- Germany
- InnovationLab GmbH
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18
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Hajisalem G, Nezami MS, Gordon R. Probing the quantum tunneling limit of plasmonic enhancement by third harmonic generation. NANO LETTERS 2014; 14:6651-6654. [PMID: 25322471 DOI: 10.1021/nl503324g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Metal nanostructures provide extreme focusing of optical energy that is limited fundamentally by quantum tunneling. We directly probe the onset of the quantum tunneling regime observed by a sharp reduction in the local field intensity in subnanometer self-assembled monolayer gaps using third harmonic generation. Unlike past works that have inferred local limits from far-field spectra, this nonlinear measurement is sensitive to the near-field intensity as the third power. We calculate the local field intensity using a quantum corrected model and find good quantitative agreement with the measured third harmonic. The onset of the quantum regime occurs for double the gap size of past studies because of the reduced barrier height of the self-assembled monolayer, which will be critical for many applications of plasmonics, including nonlinear optics and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazal Hajisalem
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Victoria , Victoria, British Columbia V8P5C2, Canada
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Neubrech F, Beck S, Glaser T, Hentschel M, Giessen H, Pucci A. Spatial extent of plasmonic enhancement of vibrational signals in the infrared. ACS NANO 2014; 8:6250-6258. [PMID: 24811345 DOI: 10.1021/nn5017204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Infrared vibrations of molecular species can be enhanced by several orders of magnitude with plasmonic nanoantennas. Based on the confined electromagnetic near-fields of resonantly excited metal nanoparticles, this antenna-assisted surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy enables the detection of minute amounts of analytes localized in the nanometer-scale vicinity of the structure. Among other important parameters, the distance of the vibrational oscillator of the analyte to the nanoantenna surface determines the signal enhancement. For sensing applications, this is a particularly important issue since the vibrating dipoles of interest may be located far away from the antenna surface because of functional layers and the large size of biomolecules, proteins, or bacteria. The relation between distance and signal enhancement is thus of paramount importance and measured here with in situ infrared spectroscopy during the growth of a probe layer. Our results indicate a diminishing signal enhancement and the effective saturation of the plasmonic resonance shift beyond 100 nm. The experiments carried out under ultra-high-vacuum conditions are supported by numerical calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Neubrech
- 4th Physics Institute and Research Center SCoPE, University of Stuttgart , Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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20
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Knight MW, King NS, Liu L, Everitt HO, Nordlander P, Halas NJ. Aluminum for plasmonics. ACS NANO 2014; 8:834-40. [PMID: 24274662 DOI: 10.1021/nn405495q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 449] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Unlike silver and gold, aluminum has material properties that enable strong plasmon resonances spanning much of the visible region of the spectrum and into the ultraviolet. This extended response, combined with its natural abundance, low cost, and amenability to manufacturing processes, makes aluminum a highly promising material for commercial applications. Fabricating Al-based nanostructures whose optical properties correspond with theoretical predictions, however, can be a challenge. In this work, the Al plasmon resonance is observed to be remarkably sensitive to the presence of oxide within the metal. For Al nanodisks, we observe that the energy of the plasmon resonance is determined by, and serves as an optical reporter of, the percentage of oxide present within the Al. This understanding paves the way toward the use of aluminum as a low-cost plasmonic material with properties and potential applications similar to those of the coinage metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark W Knight
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, §Department of Chemistry, and ⊥Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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21
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Srajer J, Schwaighofer A, Ramer G, Rotter S, Guenay B, Kriegner A, Knoll W, Lendl B, Nowak C. Double-layered nanoparticle stacks for surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy. NANOSCALE 2014; 6:127-131. [PMID: 24189636 DOI: 10.1039/c3nr04726a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate that double-layered stacks of gold and insulator nanoparticles arranged on a flat gold surface dramatically enhance the sensitivity in absorption infrared microscopy. Through morphological variations of the nanoparticles, the frequency of the plasmon resonances can be tuned to match the frequency of the molecular vibration in the mid-infrared region. The results show that the nanostructures enhance the absorption signal of the molecules by a factor of up to ~2.2 × 10(6), while preserving their characteristic line-shape remarkably well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Srajer
- Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, AIT, Donau-City Str. 1, 1220 Vienna, Austria.
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