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Gas sensing with high-resolution localized surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy
Julia M Bingham1, Jeffrey N Anker, Lauren E Kreno
1Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|November 25, 2010
Summary
High-resolution localized surface plasmon resonance (HR-LSPR) spectroscopy now enables inert gas sensing. This plasmonic nanosensor technology achieves high sensitivity for detecting minute refractive index changes and adsorbed water molecules.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics
- Nanoscience
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is a powerful optical sensing technique.
- Characterizing inert gas interactions with plasmonic sensors is challenging.
- High-resolution (HR) LSPR offers enhanced sensitivity for refractive index detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first inert gas sensing and characterization using HR-LSPR spectroscopy.
- To demonstrate the capability of HR-LSPR to detect minute changes in bulk refractive index.
- To showcase submonolayer sensitivity to adsorbed water using plasmonic nanosensors.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing high-resolution localized surface plasmon resonance (HR-LSPR) spectroscopy.
- Performing gas switching experiments between Helium (He), Argon (Ar), and Nitrogen (N2).
- Exposing the sensor to controlled humidity levels (40% vs. dry N2).
Main Results:
- HR-LSPR detected extremely small refractive index changes (<3 × 10(-4)) during gas switching (He/Ar, He/N2).
- Submonolayer sensitivity to adsorbed water was achieved by comparing air exposure to dry N2.
- The study validates HR-LSPR as a sensitive tool for gas sensing.
Conclusions:
- HR-LSPR spectroscopy significantly expands the applications for plasmonic nanosensors.
- This technique provides advanced characterization tools for gas-surface interactions.
- The findings pave the way for novel gas detection and analysis platforms.
