INNOVATIONS

Description

Advanced Plasmon Technologies (APT) focuses on the development of plasmon-based technologies for sensing, imaging, solar energy harvesting, photothermal conversion, and spectroscopy. Plasmonic nanoparticles can focus light tightly into nanoscale volumes. They can interact strongly with light. Their plasmon resonance wavelength can be synthetically controlled from the ultraviolet to the infrared region. APT will provide high-quality plasmonic nanoparticles for various plasmon-based technological applications. Moreover, it will provide low cost, highly sensitive substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). These substrates are made of three-dimensionally entangled silver nanowires. Each cross-junction between two nanowires functions as an electromagnetic hotspot for Raman detection. They are designed for use with portable Raman spectrometers. Depending on different molecules, the lowest detectable concentrations on portable Raman spectrometers can be from the micromolar to nanomolar level. They are also suitable for advanced Raman spectrometers. The detectable concentrations will be even lower. The substrates can be used for the detection of organic molecules in food and drinks. They can also be used to concentrate vapor-phase and gas molecules, such as exhaled breath and explosive molecules, to electromagnetic hotspots for Raman detection.