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Spatially-Localized Functionalization on Nanostructured Surfaces for Enhanced Plasmonic Sensing Efficacy
Jean-François Bryche1,2, Marlo Vega1,2,3, Agnès Tempez4
1Laboratoire Nanotechnologies Nanosystèmes (LN2-IRL 3463)-CNRS, Université de Sherbrooke, 3000 Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K OA5, Canada.
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 27, 2022
Summary
Spatially localizing probe molecules on nanostructured surfaces significantly enhances plasmonic sensing. Concentrating molecules in high field areas boosts signal detection for improved sensitivity in nanoplasmonic sensors.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics
- Nanotechnology
- Surface Science
Background:
- Plasmonic sensing relies on the interaction of light with nanostructures.
- Functionalization of nanostructured surfaces is key for targeted molecule detection.
- Optimizing probe molecule distribution can improve sensing performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate enhanced plasmonic sensing efficacy through spatially-localized functionalization.
- To investigate the impact of probe molecule concentration in high field areas.
- To validate numerical predictions of field distribution with experimental measurements.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of nanostructured surfaces with arrays of nanodisks (110 and 220 nm diameters).
- Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) measurements with homogeneous and localized functionalization using thiophenol.
- Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) with 10 nm spatial resolution.
Main Results:
- SERS measurements showed Raman signal predominantly originates from areas of high field concentration.
- Spatially-localized functionalization significantly enhanced plasmonic sensing efficacy compared to homogeneous methods.
- TERS measurements confirmed numerical modeling predictions of electromagnetic field distribution on the nanostructured surfaces.
Conclusions:
- Spatially-localized functionalization on nanostructured surfaces is a viable strategy to enhance plasmonic sensing.
- Concentrating probe molecules in regions of high electromagnetic field intensity maximizes sensing performance.
- The demonstrated enhancement is applicable to various optical and plasmonic sensing techniques on functionalized nanostructured surfaces.
