Fundamental Studies of Model Molecular Plasmonic Devices

技术：本项目是研究分子等离子体材料。该方法是将系缚染料引入到与基质单层结合的平面金纳米颗粒表面。所得到的染料分子/金纳米颗粒杂化物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进行表征。待研究的参数包括染料-平坦金纳米颗粒的间距、相对于金属表面的过渡偶极子的取向、附着染料的吸收和荧光波长，以及染料相对于特定平坦金纳米颗粒的高阶等离子体强度模式（模式结构）的图案放置。该项目旨在建立金纳米颗粒表面功能化和图案化的一般技术，并通过实验测试使用纳米颗粒的应用。波长控制光子能量方向的S高阶等离子体模式。该项目还将研究在平面金纳米粒子的空间分离区域添加两种不同染料的效果，以进一步探索等离子体激元介导的荧光共振能量转移。非技术：该项目涉及对材料科学具有重要意义的主题领域的基础研究问题。通过对等离子体材料的进一步了解，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。该项目通过培训具有重要技术意义的研究生和本科生，将研究和教育有效地结合起来。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相互作用，学生将获得跨学科综合研究项目的第一手经验。该研究项目与联合项目主任建立的一个本科纳米技术实验室和联合项目主任监督的一个有机教学实验室有协同重叠。本科生的研究支持可以通过在这两个合作研究实验室的实践经验来扩展学生的经验。研究成果将透过系内网页、在院校及区域研究日向本科生发表报告、在会议上发表报告及出版刊物等方式传播。

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.