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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Microscopic Visualization of Porous Nanographenes Synthesized through a Combination of Solution and On-Surface Chemistry
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Single molecules observed by near-field scanning optical microscopy.

E Betzig, R J Chichester

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |November 26, 1993
    PubMed
    Summary

    Near-field scanning optical microscopy imaged individual carbocyanine dye molecules, determining their orientation and mapping electric fields with high spatial resolution.

    Area of Science:

    • Optics and Photonics
    • Molecular Imaging
    • Nanotechnology

    Background:

    • Sub-monolayer molecular imaging presents challenges in sensitivity and spatial resolution.
    • Understanding near-field optical phenomena requires precise molecular localization and orientation determination.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To demonstrate the capability of near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) for imaging individual dye molecules.
    • To determine the spatial localization, sensitivity, and dipole orientation of imaged molecules.
    • To utilize molecular imaging for mapping electric field distributions in NSOM apertures.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) to image carbocyanine dye molecules in a sub-monolayer.
    • Achieved high spatial localization of approximately lambda/50 (where lambda is the wavelength of light).

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  • Quantified detection sensitivity at a minimum of 0.005 molecules/(Hz)(1/2) and determined molecular dipole orientation.

    • Main Results:

    • Successfully imaged individual carbocyanine dye molecules repeatedly.
    • Demonstrated high-precision spatial localization and sensitive molecule detection.
    • Determined the orientation of each molecular dipole within the imaged area.
    • Mapped the electric field distribution in the near-field aperture with molecular spatial resolution.

    Conclusions:

    • NSOM enables high-resolution imaging and characterization of individual dye molecules.
    • Molecular dipole orientation and localization provide insights into near-field optical properties.
    • This technique offers a pathway for detailed mapping of electric fields at the nanoscale.