Ruibin Jiang

Plasmonic gold mushroom arrays with refractive index sensing figures of merit approaching the theoretical limit

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-based sensing has found wide applications in medical diagnosis, food safety regulation and environmental monitoring. Compared with commercial propagating surface plasmon resonance (PSPR)-based sensors, LSPR ones are simple, cost-effective and suitable for measuring local refractive index changes. However, the figure of merit (FOM) values of LSPR sensors are generally 1-2 orders of magnitude smaller than those of PSPR ones, preventing the widespread use of LSPR sensors. Here we describe an array of submicrometer gold mushrooms with a FOM reaching ~108, which is comparable to the theoretically predicted upper limit for standard PSPR sensors. Such a high FOM arises from the interference between Woods anomaly and the LSPRs. We further demonstrate the array as a biosensor for detecting cytochrome c and alpha-fetoprotein, with their detection limits down to 200u2009pM and 15u2009ngu2009ml(-1), respectively, suggesting that the array is a promising candidate for label-free biomedical sensing.

Nanoscale surface chemistry directs the tunable assembly of silver octahedra into three two-dimensional plasmonic superlattices

A major challenge in nanoparticle self-assembly is programming the large-area organization of a single type of anisotropic nanoparticle into distinct superlattices with tunable packing efficiencies. Here we utilize nanoscale surface chemistry to direct the self-assembly of silver octahedra into three distinct two-dimensional plasmonic superlattices at a liquid/liquid interface. Systematically tuning the surface wettability of silver octahedra leads to a continuous superlattice structural evolution, from close-packed to progressively open structures. Notably, silver octahedra standing on vertices arranged in a square lattice is observed using hydrophobic particles. Simulations reveal that this structural evolution arises from competing interfacial forces between the particles and both liquid phases. Structure-to-function characterizations reveal that the standing octahedra array generates plasmonic ‘hotstrips, leading to nearly 10-fold more efficient surface-enhanced Raman scattering compared with the other more densely packed configurations. The ability to assemble these superlattices on the wafer scale over various platforms further widens their potential applications.

Localized and Continuous Tuning of Monolayer MoS2 Photoluminescence Using a Single Shape-Controlled Ag Nanoantenna.

Localized photoluminescence manipulation of 1L-MoS2 is achieved by using single shape-controlled Ag nanoantenna. By varying the antenna morphology, the photoluminescence of 1L-MoS2 is continuously tunable from enhanced (>2-fold) to weakened (>2-fold) states. A heterogeneous optical platform is realized by depositing various antennas on the same 1L-MoS2 , with an unprecedented range of photoluminescence output being observed simultaneously.

Colloidal Moderate‐Refractive‐Index Cu2O Nanospheres as Visible‐Region Nanoantennas with Electromagnetic Resonance and Directional Light‐Scattering Properties

Moderate-refractive-index dielectric nano-spheres are found to possess strong electric and magnetic dipole resonances in the visible region. Owing to the overlap of the electric and magnetic dipole resonances, moderate-refractive-index dielectric nanospheres exhibit directional forward scattering at the strongest scattering peak. Such directional scattering is experimentally observed on colloidal Cu2O nanospheres, which are readily prepared through wet-chemistry methods.

A Chemical Approach To Break the Planar Configuration of Ag Nanocubes into Tunable Two-Dimensional Metasurfaces

Current plasmonic metasurfaces of nanocubes are limited to planar configurations, restricting the ability to create tailored local electromagnetic fields. Here, we report a new chemical strategy to achieve tunable metasurfaces with nonplanar nanocube orientations, creating novel lattice-dependent field localization patterns. We manipulate the interfacial behaviors of Ag nanocubes by controlling the ratio of hydrophilic/hydrophobic molecules added in a binary thiol mixture during the surface functionalization step. The nanocube orientation at an oil/water interface can consequently be continuously tuned from planar to tilted and standing configurations, leading to the organization of Ag nanocubes into three unique large-area metacrystals, including square close-packed, linear, and hexagonal lattices. In particular, the linear and hexagonal metacrystals are unusual open lattices comprising nonplanar nanocubes, creating unique local electromagnetic field distribution patterns. Large-area hot hexagons with significant delocalization of hot spots form in the hexagonal metacrystal. With a lowest packing density of 24%, the hexagonal metacrystal generates nearly 350-fold stronger surface-enhanced Raman scattering as compared to the other denser-packing metacrystals, demonstrating the importance of achieving control over the geometrical and spatial orientation of the nanocubes in the metacrystals.

Colloidal Gold Nanocups with Orientation‐Dependent Plasmonic Properties

Colloidal gold nanocups are synthesized through single-vertex-initiated gold deposition on PbS nanooctahedrons and subsequent selective dissolution of the PbS component. They possess strong magnetic plasmon resonance and exhibit remarkable orientation-dependent plasmonic properties when deposited on flat substrates. They can also effectively couple s-polarized light into the interfacial region between the nanocup and substrate.