Tiziana C. Bond

Rigorous surface enhanced Raman spectral characterization of large-area high-uniformity silver-coated tapered silica nanopillar arrays

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been increasingly utilized as an analytical technique with significant chemical and biological applications (Qian et al 2008 Nat. Biotechnol. 26 83; Fujita et al 2009 J. Biomed. Opt. 14 024038; Chou et al 2008 Nano Lett.8 1729; Culha et al 2003 Anal. Chem. 75 6196; Willets K A 2009 Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 394 85; Han et al 2009 Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 394 1719; Sha et al 2008 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130 17214). However, production of a robust, homogeneous and large-area SERS substrate with the same ultrahigh sensitivity and reproducibility still remains an important issue. Here, we describe a large-area ultrahigh-uniformity tapered silver nanopillar array made by laser interference lithography on the entire surface of a 6 inch wafer. Also presented is the rigorous optical characterization method of the tapered nanopillar substrate to accurately quantify the Raman enhancement factor, uniformity and repeatability. An average homogeneous enhancement factor of close to 10(8) was obtained for benzenethiol adsorbed on a silver-coated nanopillar substrate.

Plasmon Resonant Cavities in Vertical Nanowire Arrays

We investigate tunable plasmon resonant cavity arrays in paired parallel nanowire waveguides. Resonances are observed when the waveguide length is an odd multiple of quarter plasmon wavelengths, consistent with boundary conditions of node and antinode at the ends. Two nanowire waveguides satisfy the dispersion relation of a planar metal-dielectric-metal waveguide of equivalent width equal to the square field average weighted gap. Confinement factors over 10(3) are possible due to plasmon focusing in the interwire space.

Nanopillar array on a fiber facet for highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering

A highly-sensitive optical fiber surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor has been developed by interference lithography. While one facet of the optical fiber is patterned with silver-coated nanopillar array as a SERS platform, the other end of the probe is used, in a remote end detection, to couple the excitation laser into the fiber and send the SERS signal to the spectrometer. SERS performance of the probe is characterized using trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)-ethylene (BPE) monolayer and an enhancement factor of 1.2 × 10(7) can be achieved by focusing the laser directly onto the nanopillar array (front end detection). We also demonstrate that this probe can be used for in situ remote sensing of toluene vapor by the remote end detection. Such a fiber SERS probe shows great potential for molecular detection in various sensing applications.

Generalized formulation for performance degradations due to bending and edge scattering loss in microdisk resonators

We present a generalized formulation for the treatment of both bending (whispering gallery) loss and scattering loss due to edge roughness in microdisk resonators. The results are applicable to microrings and related geometries. For thin disks with radii greater than the bend-loss limit, we find that the finesse limited by the scattering losses induced by edge roughness is independent of radii. While a strong lateral refractive index contrast is necessary to prevent bending losses, unless the radii are of the order of a few microns, lateral air-cladding is detrimental and only enhances scattering losses. The generalized formulation provides a framework for selecting the refractive index contrast that optimizes the finesse at a given radius.

Plasmonic black metals in resonant nanocavities

We investigate a plasmonic resonant structure tunable from ultra-violet to near infrared wavelengths with maximum absorbance strength over 95% due to a highly efficient coupling with incident light. Additional harmonics are excited at higher frequencies extending the absorbance range to multiple wavelengths. We propose the concept of a plasmonic black metal nanoresonator that exhibits broadband absorbance characteristics by spacing the modes closer through increasing the resonator length and by employing adiabatic plasmonic nano-focusing on the tapered end of the cavity.

Short-wavelength MEMS-tunable VCSELs

We present electrically-injected MEMS-tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with emission wavelengths below 800 nm. Operation in this wavelength range, near the oxygen A-band from 760-780 nm, is attractive for absorption-based optical gas sensing. These fully-monolithic devices are based on an oxide-aperture AlGaAs epitaxial structure and incorporate a suspended dielectric Bragg mirror for wavelength tuning. By implementing electrostatic actuation, we demonstrate the potential for tuning rates up to 1 MHz, as well as a wide wavelength tuning range of 30 nm (767-737 nm).

Metal‐Dielectric‐CNT Nanowires for Femtomolar Chemical Detection by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

A highly sensitive substrate for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is formed by arrays of gold-coated metallic carbon nanotubes having a nanoinsert of high-k dielectric (hafnia) as an energy coupling barrier. Repeated femtomolar detection of 1,2 bis-(4-pyridyl)-ethylene in solution demonstrates the critical contribution of this plasmonic energy coupling barrier to the enhanced chemical sensitivity.

Detection of bio-organism simulants using random binding on a defect-free photonic crystal

The defect-free photonic crystal (PC) slab geometry was explored for size-selective detection of bio-organism simulants. Through feedback between finite-difference time-domain simulations and experiments, we generated a conservative limit of detection estimate for randomized pore filling of a two-dimensional PC slab, and predict that random binding affords the label-free PC-based optical detection of low numbers (of the order of 10) of biological particles.

Photonic MEMS for NIR in-situ Gas Detection and Identification

We report on a novel sensing technique combining photonics and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for the detection and monitoring of gas emissions in environmental, medical, and industrial applications. We discuss how MEMS-tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) can be exploited for in-situ detection and NIR spectroscopy of several gases, such as O2, N2O, CH4, HF, HCl, etc., with estimated sensitivities between 0.1 and 20 ppm on footprints <<10-3 mm3. The VCSELs can be electrostatically tuned with a continuous wavelength shift up to 20 nm, allowing for unambiguous NIR signature determination. Selective concentration analysis in heterogeneous gas compositions is enabled, thus paving the way to an integrated optical platform for multiplexed gas identification by bandgap and device engineering. We will discuss here, in particular, our efforts on the development of a 760 nm AlGaAs-based tunable VCSEL for O2 detection.

Metal-molecule Schottky junction effects in surface enhanced Raman scattering.

We propose a complementary interpretation of the mechanism responsible for the strong enhancement observed in surface enhanced raman scattering (SERS). The effect of a strong static local electric field due to the Schottky barrier at the metal-molecule junction on SERS is systematically investigated. The study provides a viable explanation to the low repeatability of SERS experiments as well as the Raman peak shifts as observed in SERS and raw Raman spectra. It was found that a strong electrostatic built-in field at the metal-molecule junction along specific orientations can result in 2-4 more orders of enhancement in SERS.