Optical mass sensing based on nanomechanical resonator systems

Abstract

Nanomechanical resonator has attracted much attention because of its high Q factor, high vibration frequency, small size, high sensitivity and other excellent characteristics. With the rapid development of nanotechnology, nanomechanical system is widely employed in biology, chemistry, physics, medical sciences. Gradually, nanomechanical resonator becomes an auxiliary system for scientists to pursue some high quality and high performance materials. Here, we review one of the most important applications in our research group which is optical mass sensing based on nanomechanical resonator systems. The masses of neutral atoms, protons, neutrons and other chemical molecules and biological molecules can be measured in all-optical domain. Two nanomechanical resonators carbon nanotube and graphene nanoribbon are introduced. Compared with traditional electrical mass detection there are a lot of incomparable advantages for this optical mass sensing. For example, the heat effect and energy loss caused by circuits can be removed during the optical mass measurement, and the spectral width in optical sensing is narrower than in electrical technique. Furthermore, other than the single optical mass detection, the all-optical mass sensing is not restricted by the vibrational frequency of nanomechanical resonator, which will break many limitations in electrical method and single optical measurement. The all-optical mass sensing provides a new platform in nanoscale measurement, and has a promising to enhance the mass sensitivity and accuracy in the future.