Terahertz Chemical Microscope - from Bench to Bedside and from Laboratory to Industry

光子学是一种使能技术，为下游市场的创新创造了机会。每隔一段时间，一项非常规但革命性的技术就会为创新的巨大飞跃提供独特的机会。在这个项目中，我们建议开发这种新技术的几个新应用，用于太赫兹（THz）探测和成像，命名为太赫兹化学显微镜（TCM）。TCM使用太赫兹辐射来监测化学反应。当近红外（IR）飞秒激光照射特制的TCM传感板时，会产生电磁脉冲，这些脉冲通常处于太赫兹区。在TCM中，在传感板的顶部制作了一层传感膜，该薄膜对被检测的化学物质具有高选择性。当化学物质附着在感应膜上时，太赫兹辐射的强度就会发生变化。因此，传感膜表面化学电位和电势的变化可以通过太赫兹脉冲振幅的变化来测量。与传统的太赫兹光谱和成像技术相比，TCM有几个优点，例如能够探测在太赫兹范围内高度吸收或散射的物质（如水溶液）。

Photonics is an enabling technology that creates opportunities for innovation in downstream markets. Every so often, an unconventional but revolutionary technology provides a unique opportunity for quantum leaps in innovation. In this project, we propose to develop several new applications of a such novel technique for terahertz (THz) detection and imaging, named the Terahertz Chemical Microscope (TCM). The TCM uses THz radiation to monitor chemical reactions. When a near-infrared (IR) femtosecond laser irradiates a specially fabricated sensing plate of the TCM, electromagnetic pulses are generated, which are typically in the THz regime. In a TCM, a sensing film is fabricated on top of the sensing plate, which has high selectivity to the chemical to be detected. When chemicals attach to this sensing film, the intensity of the THz radiation changes. Therefore, changes in the chemical and electric potentials at the surface of the sensing film can be measured as changes in the amplitude of the THz pulse. The TCM has several advantages over conventional THz spectroscopy and imaging techniques, such as the ability to probe substances (such as aqueous solutions) that are highly absorptive or scattering in the THz range.