Fundamental Studies of Model Molecular Plasmonic Devices

技术：本项目是研究分子等离子体材料。其方法是将系留染料与基质单分子层一起引入到平坦的金纳米颗粒的表面。由此产生的染料-分子/金-纳米颗粒杂化将通过单纳米颗粒光谱(光散射和荧光)、原子力显微镜、扫描电子显微镜和光学显微镜来表征。要研究的参数包括染料-平板金纳米颗粒的间距、过渡偶极相对于金属表面的取向、所附染料的吸收和荧光波长，以及染料相对于特定平板金纳米颗粒的高阶等离子激元强度图案(模式结构)的图案化放置。该项目旨在建立金纳米粒子表面功能化和图案化的通用技术，并实验测试使用纳米粒子S高阶等离子激元模式进行波长控制的光子能量方向的应用。该项目还将研究将两种不同的染料添加到扁平金纳米颗粒的空间分离区域的效果，以进一步探索等离子体子介导的荧光共振能量转移。非技术性：该项目解决了对材料科学具有重要意义的热门领域的基础研究问题。通过增加对等离子体材料的了解，该项目有望为光学探测器、光学开关和化学传感器等实用设备的开发做出贡献。该项目通过在一个具有重要技术意义的领域对研究生和本科生进行培训，有效地整合了研究和教育。通过化学实验室的定向合成工作和物理实验室的测量之间的内在互动，学生将获得在跨学科和综合研究计划中发挥作用的第一手经验。该研究项目与国际和平研究所共同开发的本科生纳米技术实验室和国际和平研究所共同监督的有机教学实验室有协同重叠。本科生研究支持可以通过在这两个合作研究实验室中的任何一个的实践经验来扩展学生的经验。研究传播将通过系网上张贴、在机构和区域研究日向本科生发表演讲以及在会议和出版物上发表演讲来进行。

Technical: This project is to study molecular plasmonic materials. The methodology is to introduce tethered dyes onto the surface of flat gold nanoparticles in conjunction with a matrix monolayer. The resulting dye-molecule/gold-nanoparticle hybrid will be characterized by single nanoparticle spectroscopy (light scattering and fluorescence), atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and optical microscopy. Parameters to be investigated include the dye-flat gold nanoparticle spacing, orientation of transition dipoles with respect to the metal surface, absorption and fluorescence wavelength of the attached dyes, and patterned placement of dyes with respect to the particular flat gold nanoparticle's higher-order plasmon intensity pattern (mode structure). The project aims to establish general techniques for functionalizing and patterning surfaces of gold nanoparticles, and to experimentally test applications using nanoparticle?s higher-order plasmon modes for wavelength-controlled direction of photon energy. The project will also investigate the effect of adding two different dyes to spatially separated regions of the flat gold nanoparticle to further explore plasmon mediated fluorescence resonant energy transfer.Non-technical: The project addresses fundamental research issues in a topical area of importance to materials science. Through an increased understanding of plasmonic materials, the project is expected to contribute to the development of practical devices such as optical detectors, optical switches, and chemical sensors. The project constitutes an effective integration of research and education through training of graduate and undergraduate students in a technologically significant area. Through the inherent interactions between the directed synthetic work in the chemistry laboratory and measurements in the physics laboratory, students will gain first-hand experience functioning in an interdisciplinary and integrated research program. The research project has synergistic overlap with an undergraduate nanotechnology lab that the co-PI has developed and an organic teaching lab the PI co-supervises. The undergraduate research support can extend the experience of students though hands-on experience in either of these collaborative research laboratories. Research dissemination will be through departmental web postings, presentations to undergraduates at institutional and regional research days, and presentations at conferences as well as publication.