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Modulation of Single-Molecule Emission at Hexagonal Boron Nitride Surfaces
Daria Orekhova1, Rui Wang1, Ze Yu1
1Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD, Delft, The Netherlands.
Nano Letters
|May 11, 2026
Summary
Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) enhances fluorophore photostability and allows tuning of molecular brightness. This research enables advanced single-molecule imaging and biosensing applications using hybrid nanostructures.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biophysics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a 2D material with potential in biomolecule characterization.
- Single-molecule fluorescence imaging requires understanding substrate effects on fluorophores.
- The impact of hBN surfaces on fluorophore photophysics is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of hBN surfaces on the photophysical properties of fluorescent molecules.
- To explore the potential of hBN for enhancing single-molecule imaging and biosensing.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring photophysical properties of ATTO647N-ssDNA on hBN surfaces.
- Utilizing van der Waals stacking and Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) simulations.
- Engineering hBN optical cavities to modulate molecular emission.
Main Results:
- hBN surfaces increase photobleaching time and alter intermittency dynamics of fluorophores.
- Engineered hBN optical cavities tuned molecular brightness by a factor of 4.
- Demonstrated light-matter interactions in hBN-based hybrid nanostructures.
Conclusions:
- hBN surfaces favorably influence fluorophore photostability and dynamics.
- Engineered hBN nanostructures can control and enhance molecular emission.
- This work provides a foundation for advanced molecular imaging and biosensing devices.
