Plasmonic Interactions in Nano-Structured Voids
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The ancient art of casting but at the nano-metre scale is being used by our team at the University of Southampton to develop ultra sensitive detectors which are being tested for health screening, and programmable coloured fabrics. Our team of nano-scientists have developed the technique of nano-casting to make nano scale gold structures that enable detection by light of tiny numbers of molecules. The Mesopotamian civilization made moulds from sand to cast molten copper. We use nano-scale plastic spheres for moulds and electroplating techniques to build up our structures. The spheres are suspended in water, a drop of which is evaporated on gold-coated glass leaving a single layer of spheres. The gold is then grown up around the ball 'mould' using electroplating techniques. Finally the balls are dissolved leaving a gold metal structure with 'nano-dishes' and cavities.It is the optical properties of the structure that are key. The tiny cavities are on the scale of the wavelength of light, so they trap the light and concentrate its energy with extraordinary efficiency. The concentrated energy enhances a phenomenonknown as Raman scattering more than a million-fold enabling the reliable detection of molecules at very low concentrations. But the exact way that light is trapped inside these cavities (in a form called a 'plasmon') is still somewhat mysterious, as it is extremely hard to predict. Our project here is to understand and develop the plasmons which can be colour-tuned over the entire spectrum. To do this we can play tricks with a large variety of metals, cavity shapes, and over-coatings.Several applications are in prospect:Raman scattering produces a kind of molecular fingerprint when light in the form of a laser is focused on a sample. The vibrating bonds of the molecules in the sample absorb some of the light and 'scatter' it so that the light emitted from the sample changes colour in a characteristic way depending on the molecules present. A Raman spectrometer is used to measure this effect with the output being a spectrum of the scattered Raman light. The problem however is that Raman scattering is very weak, hard to detect, and on its own is of little practical use in diagnostics. Our gold nano materials amplify Raman scattering so that the molecular fingerprints can easily be detected even when only tiny traces ofsubstances are present. Repeating measurements on the same sample gives the same results within a few per cent, whereas previously huge variations are observed. Such accuracy is obviously vital when screening patients. There are many applications for seeing molecules sensitively. Understanding how molecules bind to surfaces is key for unraveling the mysteries of catalysis (a multi-billion industry). And environmental monitoring of pollutants or bio-hazard detection rely on such possibilities. Diagnosing conjunctivitis using this technique on tears from patients could save the NHS an estimated 471m over 10 years through savings in drugs, laboratory time and the number of patient visits. And there are many other possible diseases including hepatitis, HIV, diabetes and chlamydia that it might be possible to spot in your tears.Another prospective application is in producing low cost solar cells, which can be extremely thin and coated onto plastics. Using the organically-coated gold nano-cavities, light can potentially be very efficiently absorbed and the energy extracted, but we have to ascertain how effective this process can be made.A final intriguing possibility is in making thin films which are strongly coloured, but don't use toxic and carcinogenic dyes. By stretching the films, or connecting them to a battery, their colour can potentially be changed. Hence we plan to test thelimits to this new tuneable colour from our structures.
Organisations
- University of Cambridge (Lead Research Organisation)
- Base4 Innovation (Collaboration)
- Nokia Research Centre Cambridge (Collaboration)
- Renishaw (United Kingdom) (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Eastman Kodak Company (Kodak) (Collaboration)
- Institute of Optics (Project Partner)
- De La Rue (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
Jeremy Baumberg (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Min Huang F
(2012)
Direct assembly of three-dimensional mesh plasmonic rolls
in Applied Physics Letters
Pennington R
(2009)
Spectral properties and modes of surface microcavities
in Physical Review A
Savage K
(2011)
From microns to kissing contact: Dynamic positioning of two nano-systems
in Applied Physics Letters
Speed JD
(2011)
SERS from molecules bridging the gap of particle-in-cavity structures.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Steuwe C
(2011)
Surface enhanced coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering on nanostructured gold surfaces.
in Nano letters
Taylor R
(2016)
Optimizing SERS from Gold Nanoparticle Clusters: Addressing the Near Field by an Embedded Chain Plasmon Model
in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Taylor R
(2012)
Simple Composite Dipole Model for the Optical Modes of Strongly-Coupled Plasmonic Nanoparticle Aggregates
in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Taylor RW
(2013)
In situ SERS monitoring of photochemistry within a nanojunction reactor.
in Nano letters
Taylor RW
(2011)
Precise subnanometer plasmonic junctions for SERS within gold nanoparticle assemblies using cucurbit[n]uril "glue".
in ACS nano
Teperik T
(2008)
Omnidirectional absorption in nanostructured metal surfaces
in Nature Photonics
Description | We developed new ways to cheaply make thin metallic films containing voids, which trap and enhance light impinging. The optical fields produce improved solar cells, improved molecular sensing, and tuneable colour properties. |
Exploitation Route | molecular sensors are now being investigated for drugs and explosive detections, screening of patients entering hospitals, pathogenic virus detection and others. Enhanced solar cells are of interest for many different photovoltaic applications. |
Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Energy Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology Security and Diplomacy |
URL | http://www.np.phy.cam.ac.uk |
Description | The results have informed both development of patents and interactions with industries and biomedical partners, as well as directly focussed our research in new directions. |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Energy,Environment,Healthcare |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £397,636 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/H007024/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £3,630,742 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/G060649/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | EPSRC Programme Grant SNaP |
Amount | £3,630,742 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/G060649/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | European Commission (EC) |
Amount | £174,195 (GBP) |
Funding ID | FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF 298012 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start |
Description | European Commission (EC) |
Amount | £174,195 (GBP) |
Funding ID | FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF 298012 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start |
Description | NanoSciEra+ |
Amount | £397,636 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/H007024/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Nokia |
Amount | £523,373 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RG61446 |
Organisation | Nokia |
Sector | Private |
Country | Global |
Start |
Description | Nokia |
Amount | £523,373 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RG61446 |
Organisation | Nokia |
Sector | Private |
Country | Global |
Start |
Description | Kodak |
Organisation | Eastman Kodak Company (Kodak) |
Department | Kodak Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | CASE studentship |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Renishaw Diagnostic Ltd |
Organisation | Renishaw PLC |
Department | Renishaw Diagnostics Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | CASE studentship |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | base4innovation |
Organisation | Base4 Innovation |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | research project |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | collaboration with Nokia |
Organisation | Nokia Research Centre Cambridge |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | research collaboration |
Start Year | 2010 |
Company Name | Base4 |
Description | Base4 has developed nanopore technology that enables single molecule analysis, pathogen detection and DNA sequencing. |
Year Established | 2007 |
Impact | second tranche of funding, having hit milestones |
Website | http://www.base4.co.uk |
Description | Perse school science workshops |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 9-10year olds, 2 workshops (Will, Laura, Anna, Lee) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |