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Electrically Excited Plasmonic Nanoruler for Biomolecule Detection.
André Dathe1, Mario Ziegler1, Uwe Hübner1
1Department of Nanobiophotonics and ‡Department of Quantum Detection, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT) , Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745 Jena, Germany.
Nano Letters
|August 23, 2016
Summary
This study introduces electrically driven plasmonic nanorulers for label-free biosensing. This innovation enables highly miniaturized sensors without external light sources, compatible with integrated circuits.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Plasmonics
- Biosensing
Background:
- Plasmon-based sensors offer label-free detection of biomolecules.
- Plasmonic nanorulers sense nanoscale distances via plasmon hybridization.
- Existing designs require complex optical excitation, hindering miniaturization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel method for direct electrical excitation of plasmonic nanorulers.
- To develop a miniaturized plasmonic sensor platform compatible with integrated circuits.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of a metal-dielectric-semiconductor heterostructure for electron tunneling.
- Direct excitation of surface plasmons via quantum shot noise of tunneling currents.
- Voltage application to directly excite plasmon modes without external light.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated electrically driven nanorulers with properties similar to optically excited ones.
- Confirmed sensing capabilities through detection of antibody binding.
- Validated the principle of direct electrical excitation of plasmon modes.
Conclusions:
- A new principle for electrically driven plasmonic nanorulers has been established.
- This technology enables highly miniaturized, integrated plasmonic sensors.
- The platform is compatible with monolithic integrated circuits for advanced applications.
