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Hyperspectral Imaging as a Tool to Study Optical Anisotropy in Lanthanide-Based Molecular Single Crystals
Published on: April 14, 2020
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Lanthanide Ion Resonance-Driven Rayleigh Scattering of Nanoparticles for Dual-Modality Interferometric Scattering
Lei Ding1,2, Xuchen Shan1,2,3, Dejiang Wang1
1School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, 2007, Australia.
Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|August 17, 2022
Summary
Doping lanthanide ions into nanoparticles enhances their light scattering properties. This breakthrough enables advanced nanoscale imaging and biosensing applications without precise geometric control.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- Optical Physics
Background:
- Light scattering from nanoparticles is crucial for applications like nanoscale imaging, photon confinement, and biosensing.
- Traditional methods for controlling nanoparticle scattering spectra rely on precise geometric fabrication, which is complex and costly.
- Developing alternative strategies to engineer nanoparticle optical properties is essential for broader applicability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of lanthanide ion doping on the scattering properties of low-refractive-index nanoparticles.
- To demonstrate a novel method for engineering nanoparticle scattering spectra independent of geometric features.
- To explore the application of these engineered nanoparticles in advanced microscopy techniques.
Main Methods:
- Synthesizing low-refractive-index nanoparticles doped with lanthanide ions.
- Characterizing the scattering spectra of the doped nanoparticles.
- Utilizing interferometric scattering (iSCAT) microscopy to detect and image the nanoparticles.
- Developing a dual-modality iSCAT system for identifying different nanoparticle types in live cells.
Main Results:
- Lanthanide ion doping significantly enhances the polarizability and scattering cross-section of nanoparticles when excitation wavelength matches ion resonance.
- Engineered nanoparticles demonstrate improved performance in interferometric scattering (iSCAT) microscopy.
- A dual-modality iSCAT system successfully identified distinct nanoparticle types within living HeLa cells.
- Demonstrated a geometry-independent strategy for modulating nanoparticle scattering features.
Conclusions:
- Lanthanide ion doping offers a powerful and versatile approach to engineer nanoparticle scattering properties.
- This method provides a pathway for developing advanced optical nanomaterials for imaging and sensing.
- The findings open new avenues for geometry-independent scattering modulation in nanomaterials.

