In realizing excellent plasmonic devices, a methodology based on flexibility and simplicity in fabrication, minimal sensitiveness to smaller nanoscale errors, larger dielectric layer thickness with superior device characteristics, and low-cost process is critically crucial for next-generation devices with multiple applications. One such attractive device is a plasmonic nanocavity, with numerous reports been already reported resulting in superior localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and enhancement properties. The conventional spherical NP on a metallic mirror (NPOM) nanostructure’s plasmonic characteristics deteriorates with minor changes in dielectric layer thickness (t ≤ 6 nm). Alternatives like nanocube on mirror (NCOM), nanodisk on mirror (NDOM), provided better options towards LSPR tuning and near field enhancement. In recent times there are few reports based on faceted spherical NPOM design emerged. But however, the so far reported FNPOM nanostructures lacked the following: “facet width control, a clear SEM/TEM image of full geometry, and larger “t” with superior plasmonic characteristics”. In this work, for the first time, we report a clear FNPOM nanostructure with better control in facet fabrication using reactive thermal annealing (RTA) method. We used Ag NP on an Au mirror with SiO2 as a dielectric layer with different NP diameters of 50 nm, 70 nm and 100 nm with a precise facet width control (from 90% sphere to hemisphere). We employed a larger “t” ranging between 10 nm – 40 nm to display superior properties. From our dark field and LSPR mapping measurements, 70% of the sample are showed similar plasmonic characteristics from a 1 cm x 1 cm substrate. Our experiment results showed that it is possible to tune the LSPR resonance wavelength till 40 nm dielectric thickness reflecting it as a superior plasmonic nanocavity device. The reason behind this enhanced plasmonic characteristics is due to the introduction of facet in NPs and our three-dimensional finite difference time domain (3D FDTD) simulations results agreed well with experiment. For a final comparison, we checked our hemispherical shaped FNPOM versus NCOM design for NPs with diameter of 100 nm, where we find our FNPOM nanostructures showcased superior plasmonic properties.
An highly efficient plasmonic/photonic devices requires precise nanoscale structural control which becomes critically essential for variety of application requirements. Advancements in lithography and deposition methods provided precise sub-nm structure with complex processing steps at high cost. Self-ssembly technique involving M13 bacteriophage (phage) provides us an alternative option with easy fabrication, high selectivity/sensitivity, and altogether with low-cost methodology. With such merits, we demonstrate two kinds of applications: A highly efficient dynamic actuator and dynamic plasmonic device. From our phage-based device it is possible to precisely control thickness in 0.2 nm step or in a broader range resulting in realization of highly efficient dynamic actuator device. Thickness modification is cross-checked using localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) measurements. On the other-side, variety of interesting complex plasmonic characteristics are extensively studied and an efficient plasmonic device is realized with precise sub-nm dynamic phage thickness modification. Critically, problems involving plasmonic devices which are extremely sensitive to sub-nm scale changes (≤ 1nm) can be solved utilizing dynamic M13 phage property. To strengthen dynamic plasmonic device characteristics, we introduce the metal-coated M13 phage-based nanostructures based on a simple and straight-forward drop-casting technique. Nanowires and island/NP structures are formed with precise control and reproducibilty. Nanowires with diameter range of ~ 6.6 nm – 150 nm and islands with diameter range of ~ 100 nm – 1200 nm are fabricated. By varying the humidity, highly efficient plasmonic characteristics are realized with the help of LSPR experiments. Our home-made built-in humidity chamber equipped with atomic force microscopy measurements revealed the sub-nm thickness variation of M13 phage, which agreed well with LSPR and optical simulation results. We hope our approach utilizing M13 bacteriophage as a supporting platform will open attractive applications in field of plasmonic devices, understanding complex plasmonic modes, sensors, actuators, energy devices and few other to name.
The effective confinement of light in a deep-subwavelength volume can be achieved in metallic nanostructures through the electronic resonance, surface plasmons (SPs). There are few ways to enhance the localization of the field such as adopting metallic nanopost or nanowire structures on the precious metallic film. The achieved highly enhanced field localization through SPs can be exploited for surface-enhanced spectroscopy, biosensor, enhancing energy emitter, and enhanced energy generator. Also, many researches have been tried with few-nanometer gap between the metals for achieving large field enhancements. In this paper, by comparing the scattering of gold nanoparticles, the effects of metallic film of substrates were investigated through simulation. In addition, as changing of the gap between gold nanoparticle and metallic surface, different resonance wavelengths were observed in scattering spectra from simulation and practical experiments. We confirmed that the gold film with gold nanoparticles shows the most distinctive scattering spectra. The numerical demonstration was matched with our experimental demonstration, also with the previously introduced papers as well.
Recently, the portable and wearable electronic devices, operated in the power range of microwatt to miliwatt, become available thank to the nanotechnology development and become an essential element for a comfortable life. Our recent research interest mainly focuses on the fabrication of piezoelectric nanogenerators based on smart nanomaterials such as zinc oxide novel nanostructure, M13 bacteriophage. In this talk, we present a simple strategy for fabricating the freestanding ZnO nanorods/graphene/ZnO nanorods double sided heterostructures. The characterization of the double sided heterostructures by using SEM, and Raman scattering spectroscopy reveals the key process and working mechanism of a formation of the heterostructure. The mechanism is discussed in detail in term of the decomposed seed layer and the vacancy defect of graphene. The approach consists of a facile one-step fabrication process and could achieve ZnO coverage with a higher number density than that of the epitaxial single heterostructure. The resulting improvement in the number density of nanorods has a direct beneficial effect on the double side heterostructured nanogenerator performance. The total output voltage and current density are improved up to~2 times compared to those of a single heterostructure due to the coupling of the piezoelectric effects from both upward and downward grown nanorods. The facile one-step fabrication process suggests that double sided heterostructures would improve the performance of electrical and optoelectrical device, such as touch pad, pressure sensor, biosensor and dye-sensitized solar cells. Further, ioinspired nanogenerators based on vertically aligned phage nanopillars are inceptively demonstrated. Vertically aligned phage nanopillars enable not only a high piezoelectric response but also a tuneable piezoelectricity. Piezoelectricity is also modulated by tuning of the protein's dipoles in each phage. The sufficient electrical power from phage nanopillars thus holds promise for the development of self-powered implantable and wearable electronics.
KEYWORDS: Fluorescence resonance energy transfer, Luminescence, Polymers, Energy efficiency, Molecules, Absorption, Resonance energy transfer, Picosecond phenomena, Energy transfer, Time resolved spectroscopy
We have investigated that organic solvent (DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide) modifies energy transfer efficiency between conjugated polymers (donors) and fluorescein-labeled single stranded DNAs (acceptors). In a mixture of buffer and organic solvent, fluorescence of the acceptors is significantly enhanced compared to that of pure water solution. This result can be attributed to change of the donor-acceptor environment such as decreased hydrophobicity of polymers, screening effect of organic solvent molecules, resulting in an enhanced energy transfer efficiency. Time-resolved fluorescence decay of the donors and the acceptors was modelled by considering the competition between the energy harvesting Foerster resonance energy transfer and the energy-wasting quenching. This enables to quantity that the Foerster distance (R0 = 43.3 Å) and resonance energy transfer efficiency (EFRET = 58.7 %) of pure buffer solution become R0 = 38.6 Å and EFRET = 48.0 % when 80% DMSO/buffer mixture is added.
During the last decade, much attention has been paid to graphene-based nanomaterials because they are considered as potential candidates for biomedical applications such as scaffolds for tissue engineering and substrates for the differentiation of stem cells. Until now, electrospun matrices composed of various biodegradable copolymers have been extensively developed for tissue engineering and regeneration; however, their use in combination with graphene oxide (GO) is novel and challenging. In this study, nanofiber matrices composed of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid, PLGA) and M13 phage with RGD peptide displayed on its surface (RGD peptide-M13 phage) were prepared as extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimicking substrates. RGD peptide is a tripeptide (Arg-Gly-Asp) found on ECM proteins that promotes various cellular behaviors. The physicochemical properties of PLGA and RGD peptide-M13 phage (PLGA/RGD peptide) nanofiber matrices were characterized by atomic force microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, the growth of C2C12 mouse myoblasts on the PLGA/RGD peptide matrices was examined by measuring the metabolic activity. Moreover, the differentiation of C2C12 mouse myoblasts on the matrices when treated with GO was evaluated. The cellular behaviors, including growth and differentiation of C2C12 mouse myoblasts, were substantially enhanced on the PLGA/RGD peptide nanofiber matrices when treated with GO. Overall, these findings suggest that the PLGA/RGD peptide nanofiber matrices can be used in combination with GO as a novel strategy for skeletal tissue regeneration.
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