Self-assembly plasmonic metamaterials based on templated annealing for advanced biosensing

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a novel method for the fabrication of self-assembly plasmonic metamaterials by exploiting fluid instabilities of optical thin films. Due to interplay between template reflow and spinodal dewetting, two metal nanoparticles of different sizes are generated on the top mesas of free-standing porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template, which results in the apprearance of double resonant peaks in the extinction spectrum. These two resonant peaks possess refractive index resolution 3.27 × 10−4 and 2.53 × 10−4 RIU, respectively. This optical intensity modulation based plasmonic nanoplatform shows a dramatically surface sensing performance with outstanding detection capacity of biomolecules, because of the very small decay length of electric field at dual-modes. The detection ability for concanavalin A (Con A) demonstrats that the limit of detection of dual-modes reaches as small as 68 and 79 nM, respectively.

Assessment of the corrosion resistance of self-ordered anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) obtained in tartaric-sulfuric acid (TSA)

“…These treatments contrast with TSA industrial anodizing, that requires only one anodization during less than 30 minutes, temperatures above room temperature and give rise to disordered porous anodic layers with 2-7 microns of thickness [42]. To date, ordered porous anodic layers have been applied to numerous fields as such as separation [43], chemical/biological sensing devices [44], cell adhesion [45], catalysis [46], energy storage [47] and drug delivery vehicles [48], being the most remarkable the employment as a template for the synthesis of nanostructures inside their pores [40,49].…”

Plasmonics on a Neural Implant: Engineering Light–Matter Interactions on the Nonplanar Surface of Tapered Optical Fibers

“…[63] While this drawback can be circumvented using structures with high enhancement factors such as bow-tie antennas, [64,65] ion implantation might diminish the optical transmission of exposed areas of glass, although this has been observed at higher fluencies. [40,66] While traditional methods such as electron beam lithography are hardly suitable to pattern the taper surface, other strategies such as two-photon polymerization lithography, [67] self-assembly, [68,69] or nanostencil lithography [70] might allow obtaining high lateral resolution and relevant field enhancement. In this direction, we will devote our future work to alternative design that can offer the same degree of tunability of cNGs while also providing for a stronger field enhancement.…”

Nanoporous Anodic Alumina Photonic Crystals for Sunlight Harvesting Applications: A Perspective

“…This capability was associated with strong multiple scattering inside the NAA pores combined with a low refractive index and high density of optical modes. The fabrication of integrated material systems with plasmonic nanoparticles is also suitable for photocatalysis applications, even though current demonstrations focus mostly on biosensing [ 167 ] and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering. [ 168 ] The experimental realization of such structures is done by self‐assembly of nanoparticles at the solvent interface followed by transfer and dewetting of electron‐beam‐evaporated gold films, respectively.…”