Plasmonic NanostructuresAddressable HotspotsOptical SpectroscopyHydrogelsPlasmon Resonance VisualizationDark and Bright Modes
Research Disciplines
Mathematical modellingOptics
Project Summary
Tailored materials that are assembled from nanoscale building blocks play a crucial role in
current science and technology and represent a cornerstone in highly multidisciplinary arena of
materials research. Among them, metallic nanoparticles represent an important class of
nanomaterials as they offer unique optical properties associated with the phenomenon of
localized surface plasmon resonance. It originates from the coupled collective oscillations of
electron density, which allow for tight confinement of electromagnetic field and serve in many
applications including biosensing, photo-triggering of highly-localized chemical reactions, and
amplification of weak signals in optical spectroscopy such as fluorescence, infrared absorption
spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.
One of the important experimental challenges in designing plasmonic nanomaterials is the
precise spatial control enabling selective docking of (bio)chemical species at specific nanoscale
areas that are referred to as plasmonic hotspot. Only there the intense electromagnetic field of
localized surface plasmons reaches its maximum and the probing of target species is most
efficient. The proposed research aims at the development of a new method for the attachment
of biomolecular species at plasmonic hotspots based on plasmon-enhanced multi-photon
absorption and dedicated photo-crosslinkable responsive polymers and linkers.
By the use of photo-crosslinkable polymers that can form responsive functional polymer
networks at plasmonic hotspot, a new class of tailored plasmonic materials will be prepared.
They will be composed of metallic nanoparticle assemblies with actively reconfigurable
geometry and support a controlled spectrum of optically bright and dark plasmonic modes.
These materials will be designed so chemical species that can serve as ligands to affinity capture
selected biomolecules are probed by these modes in addresable manner. They will be
implemented in advanced biosensing studies based on plasmon-enhanced fluorescence and
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and benefit from active actuating of their characteristics
by applied external stimuli.
The main persons responsible for the project are the applicant Dr. Yevhenii Morozov and
the co-applicant Dr. Jakub Dostalek (AIT).
Research Outputs (6)
publications (6)
Title
Year(s)
DOI / Link
Microstructuring of Thermoresponsive Biofunctional Hydrogels by Multiphoton PhotocrosslinkingAdvanced Functional Materials