An Ultrasensitive Biosensor Integrating Semiconductor Nanowires with Plasmonic Resonators

辛辛那提大学集成半导体纳米线和等离子体谐振器的超灵敏生物传感器智能价值：这项研究的目标是利用半导体纳米线和金属等离子体谐振器中的光学非线性来创造一种新型的纳米级生物传感器。所提出的生物传感器将协同结合半导体和金属纳米结构中的这两种强大的效应，开发出一种极其灵敏的自给自足的传感器，用于检测特定的生物病原体，如细菌、病毒和毒素。在功能上，病原体附着在金属纳米结构上会使其与激励激光共振，从而在一维半导体纳米线中产生大的光电流。该项目将导致对该传感器每个组件所涉及的基本和技术问题的了解，以便制造具有纳米线阵列的便携式设备，每个纳米线阵列对特定的病原体敏化。这种手持设备可以被当地卫生官员、执法官员、办公室里的医生以及我们食品供应的生产商或加工商使用。更广泛的影响：拟议的研究有益于社会，因为快速和灵敏地检测病原体或毒素将改善我们的国土安全以及我们的水和食品供应的安全。拟议中的研究项目也将对我国未来科学家的培养产生重大影响。在涉及半导体纳米结构科学和工程的跨学科工作中，研究生、博士后研究员以及本科生的参与和培训为这一日益增长的国家劳动力提供了所需的人才，并在个人层面上提供了成功从事这些工作所需的那种培训。这些研究人员还将致力于通过一年一度的地区中学生和他们的老师的周六纳米科学日来激发年轻人对科学的兴趣。

0701703Leigh M. Smith, University of CincinnatiAn Ultrasensitive Biosensor Integrating Semiconductor Nanowires with Plasmonic ResonatorsIntellectual Merit: The goal of this research is to harness optical nonlinearities in semiconductor nanowires and metal plasmonic resonators to create a novel nanoscale biosensor. The proposed biosensor will synergistically combine these two powerful effects in semiconductor and metallic nanostructures to develop an extremely sensitive self-contained sensor for detecting specific biopathogens such as bacteria, viruses and toxins. Functionally, attachment of a pathogen to a metallic nanostructure will cause it to come into resonance with an exciting laser, thereby causing large photocurrents in a one-dimensional semiconductor nanowire. This project will lead to an understanding of both the fundamental and the technical issues involved in each component of this sensor in order to fabricate a portable device with arrays of nanowires, each sensitized for a specific pathogen. Such a handheld device could be used by local health officials, by law enforcement officials, by doctors in their offices, and by the producers or processors of our food supply. Broader Impacts: The proposed research benefits society, since the rapid and sensitive detection of pathogens or toxins will improve our homeland security as well as the safety of our water and food supply. The proposed research project will also have great impact on preparing our nation's future scientists. The involvement and training of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows as well as undergraduate students in interdisciplinary work involving semiconductor nanostructure science and engineering provides needed talent for this growing segment of the nation's workforce and, on the individual level, provides the sort of training necessary to be successful in these jobs. These researchers will also work to excite young people about science through an annual Saturday Nanoscience Day for area middle school students and their teachers.