NER: Hybrid Surface Plasmon - Photonic Crystal Device for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

拉曼光谱是一项强大的技术，应用范围从基础科学到医疗保健传感器。拉曼光谱探测振动能级，从而可以识别分子，并观察到键合的变化。在医学上，拉曼气体分析仪用于实时监测麻醉和呼吸气体混合物。尽管具有巨大的潜力，但由于拉曼散射过程的效率非常低，拉曼光谱尚未被广泛采用。在这项提案中，PI概述了一种用于表面增强拉曼散射的新设备的开发计划。在该器件中，表面等离子体纳米结构与光子晶体集成，产生强烈的电磁场，导致器件表面分子的拉曼散射增强。这将允许更小数量的材料进行分析，更快的采集时间，并将降低仪器成本和复杂性。由于器件将由硅微加工制造，拉曼增强将是可重复的，这对传感器应用非常有利。更广泛的影响通过克服拉曼光谱的关键困难-非常低的拉曼散射效率-所提出的设备可以成为各种应用的使能技术。该项目为两名研究生和一名本科生提供了在纳米科学跨学科领域开展研究工作的机会。PI将为他的研究生光子学课程开发一个新的实验室实验，主题是金属纳米结构中的表面增强拉曼散射。在K-12阶段，PI致力于通过为感兴趣的教师和学生举办研讨会来支持剑桥公立学校系统的科学教育。

Intellectual MeritRaman spectroscopy is a powerful technique, with applications ranging from basic science to sensors for healthcare. Raman spectroscopy probes vibrational energy levels, thereby allowing molecules to be identified, and changes in bonding to be observed. In medicine, Raman gas analyzers are used for the real-time monitoring of anaesthetic and respiratory gas mixtures. In spite of this enormous potential, Raman spectroscopy has not been adopted in a widespread fashion, due to very low efficiency of the Raman scattering process. In this proposal, the PI outlines a plan for the development of a new device for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering. In the device, surface plasmon nanostructures integrated with photonic crystals generate intense electromagnetic fields that lead to enhanced Raman scattering from molecules on the device surface. This will allow smaller quantities of materials to be analyzed, faster acquisition times, and will reduce the instrumentation cost and complexity. As the devices will be produced by silicon microfabrication, the Raman enhancement will be reproducible, which is highly advantageous for sensor applications.Broader ImpactsBy overcoming the key difficulty of Raman spectroscopy - the very low Raman scattering efficiency - the proposed device could be the enabling technology for a wide variety of applications. The program provides opportunities for two graduate students and one undergraduate to carry out research work in an interdisciplinary area of nanoscience. The PI will develop a new laboratory experiment for his graduate photonics course on the topic of surface enhancement Raman scattering in metallic nanostructures. At the K-12 level, the PI is committed to supporting science education in the Cambridge Public Schools system through seminars for interested teachers and students.