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Nanoscale plasmonic phase sensor

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Abstract

Using the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of gold nanoparticles for sensing applications has attracted considerable interest, since it can be very sensitive, even down to a single molecule, and selective for a specific analyte molecule with a suitable surface modification. LSPR sensing is usually based on the wavelength shift of the LSPR or a Fano resonance. Here, we present a new experimental approach based on the phase of the light scattered by a single gold nanoparticle by equipping a confocal microscope with an additional interferometer arm similar to a Michelson interferometer. The detected phase depends on the shape of the nanoparticle and the refractive index of the surrounding medium and can even be detected for off-resonant excitation. This can be used as a new and sensitive detection method in LSPR sensing, allowing the detection of changes to the local refractive index or the binding of molecules to the nanoparticle surface.

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Funding

This study received funding from DFG grants ME 1600/13-3, BR 532/1-1 and FL670/7-1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Eberhard Karls University, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany

    Frank Wackenhut, Lukas A. Jakob, Otto Hauler, Alexander Stuhl, Kai Braun & Alfred J. Meixner

  2. Institute for Applied Physics, Eberhard Karls University, Auf der Morgenstelle 10, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany

    Florian Laible & Monika Fleischer

  3. Center for Light-Matter-Interaction, Sensors and Analytics LISA+, Eberhard Karls University, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany

    Florian Laible, Monika Fleischer, Kai Braun & Alfred J. Meixner

Authors
  1. Frank Wackenhut
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  2. Lukas A. Jakob
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  3. Otto Hauler
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  4. Alexander Stuhl
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  5. Florian Laible
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  6. Monika Fleischer
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  7. Kai Braun
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  8. Alfred J. Meixner
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Frank Wackenhut or Alfred J. Meixner.

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Published in the topical collection Advances in Direct Optical Detection with guest editors Antje J. Baeumner, Günter Gauglitz, and Jiri Homola.

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Wackenhut, F., Jakob, L.A., Hauler, O. et al. Nanoscale plasmonic phase sensor. Anal Bioanal Chem 412, 3405–3411 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-02340-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-02340-w

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