Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Research Articles

Interfacial cfDNA Enrichment and Amplification with On-Chip Thermoplasmonics for Highly Sensitive Cancerous Liquid Biopsy.

Tumor-derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been exploited as an effective liquid biopsy biomarker for early cancer diagnosis. However, the fragmented and low-abundance nature in circulating blood pose challenges for highly sensitive cfDNA quantification. Herein, a multifunctional plasmonic biosensor termed Interfacial cfDNA Enrichment, Amplification and Sensing with on-chip Thermoplasmonics (INEAST) is developed for cfDNA-based liquid biopsy and lung cancer diagnosis. The INEAST biosensor achieved in situ thermoregulation and label-free cfDNA biosensing by simultaneously harnessing interfacial thermoplasmonics and localized surface plasmon resonance. Typical cfDNA biomarkers, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), tumor protein 53 (TP53), phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKN2A), are quantified with detection limits down to femtomolar-level. Through further validation using blood samples from lung cancer patients, the proposed INEAST bioassays demonstrated superior reliability for lung cancer screening, particularly when combined with clinically available tumor-protein metrics. This study demonstrated that the INEAST biosensor enables rapid and sensitive cfDNA quantification, yielding a promising and compatible liquid biopsy for early-stage lung cancer diagnosis.

Probing electronic-structure pH-dependency of Au nanoparticles through X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Research on gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) remains a field of intense activity due to their broad range of applications in diverse fields like catalysis, renewable energy, environmental science, and medicine. Herein, the morphological and electronic structures investigation of Au NPs prepared at different pH values is reported. The dependence of the localized surface plasmon resonance wavelength and electronic structure with size was determined by combining transmission electron microscopy, and various spectroscopic methods led by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The X-ray absorption experiments evidenced that the citrate-stabilized Au NPs bulk electronic structure remains intact over a broad range of pHs, and changes were detected resulting from differences in NPs surface terminations.

Tuneability and optimum functionality of plasmonic transparent conducting oxide-Ag core-shell nanostructures

Tunning localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in transparent conducting oxides (TCO) has a great impact on various LSPR-based technologies. In addition to the commonly reported mechanisms used for tunning LSPR in TCOs (e.g., size, shape, carrier density modifications via intrinsic and extrinsic doping), integrating them in core-shell structures provides an additional degree of freedom to expand its tunability, enhance its functionality, and widen its versatility through application-oriented core-shell geometrical optimization. In this work, we explore the tuneability and functionality of two TCO nanostructures; indium doped tin oxide (ITO) and gallium doped zinc oxide (GZO) encapsulated with silver shell within the extended theoretical Mie theory formalism. The effect of core and shell sizes on LSPR peak position and line width as well as absorption and scattering coefficients is numerically investigated. Simulations showed that LSPRs of ITO-Ag and GZO-Ag core-shell nanostructures have great tunning capabilities, spanning from VIS to IR spectral range including therapeutic window of human tissue and essential solar energy spectrum. Potential functionality as refractive index sensor (RIS) and solar energy absorber (SEA) are examined using appropriate figure of merits (FoM). Simulations indicate that a geometrically optimized core-shell architecture with exceptional FoMs for RIS and SEA can be realized. Contrary to carrier density manipulation, integrating TCO cores to metallic shells proves to be an effective approach to enhance tunability and optimize functionality for high performance TCO-based plasmonic devices, with minimum impact on the inherited physical and chemical properties of the used TCO-core materials.

Plasmon and N-vacancy synergistically enhanced tubular carbon nitride-based S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst with one stone five birds function: Pathways, DFT calculation and mechanism insight

From the perspectives of innovation and broad-spectrum, tubular carbon nitride-based photocatalyst, viz., Ag/AgI/g-C3N4 S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, with enhancement of nitrogen vacancy and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect is reasonably devised and manufactured via combining hydrothermal, calcination and photo-reduction techniques. The optimal specimen displays high photocatalytic activity in removal of dyes (such as crystalline violet, 100.00 %/60 min), antibiotics (such as levofloxacin, 88.72 %/50 min) and Cr6+ (100.00 %, 30 min), photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (1023.3 μmol h−1 g−1) and H2O2 generation (866.2 μmol h−1 g−1), achieving broad-spectrum natures, viz., realizing the function of “one stone five birds”. The broad-spectrum natures are attributed to the synergisms of nitrogen vacancy, LSPR effect of Ag, hollow tube structure and S-scheme heterojunction, which facilitate the separation and migration of photo-generated carriers and inject “hot electrons” generated by Ag into the conduction band of Ag/AgI/g-C3N4, increase the specific surface area and broaden the spectral response range. Further, the degraded intermediates of crystalline violet and levofloxacin and possible degradation pathways are rationally advanced by the aid of LCMS spectra, and synergistically enhanced photocatalytic mechanism of Ag/AgI/g-C3N4 hollow tube S-scheme heterojunction is confirmed based upon a series of sound experiments, fs-TA spectra, in-situ XPS and DFT calculation, etc.

Zr-MOF/MXene composite for enhanced photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction in atmospheric and industrial flue gas streams

In this study, a novel composite was engineered by integrating Zr-MOF (NH2-UIO-66) with MXene layers through electrostatic self-assembly. Under simulated sunlight and at 80 °C, this composite material achieved nearly complete conversion of low-concentration atmospheric CO2 to CO and CH4 without additional sacrificial agents or alkaline absorption liquids, marking one of the few reports demonstrating near-complete reduction of low-concentration CO2 directly from the air. For high-concentration CO2 in industrial flue gas, the composite utilized residual heat at 80 °C without additional energy input, exhibiting excellent CO2 reduction efficiency with CO and CH4 production rates of 127 μmol·g-1·h-1 and 330 μmol·g-1·h-1, respectively, resulting in a total production rate 4.76 times higher than that in the air. Compared to most reports on thermocatalytic CO2 reduction (>300 °C), this material shows significant advantages below 100 °C. The performance improvement is attributed to the introduction of Zr-MOF, which provides additional active sites and reduces activation energy. Additionally, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of MXene facilitates the migration of thermal charge carriers to Zr4+ sites within the MOF. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations validate these findings. Overall, Zr-MOF/MXene composite holds potential for reducing CO2 in air and industrial settings, advancing energy conversion and environmental management.

Titanium Nitride-Gold Nanoislands: Harnessing Electrical and Optical Properties for Enhanced Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensing

Titanium nitride-gold nanoislands (TANIs) are experimentally investigated to explore their electrical and optical properties induced by the incorporation of Au into TiN. A film is first fabricated on a glass substrate using the radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering technique at 300 K, with a thickness of approximately 20 nm (± 2.5 nm) and an Au:TiN ratio of 0 to 0.47. Subsequent thermal annealing provides a nanoisland structure of TiN-Au. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the presence of TiN and Au in the fabricated TiN-Au nanoislands. Spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements show that the TANIs posses excellent optical properties. Furthermore, numerical evaluations of energy dissipation are conducted to assess carrier transport deterioration due to the inelastic scattering effects in the TANIs and the inclusion of Au in the nanostructure significantly have reduced the dielectric loss tangent at energies greater than 4.5 eV, compensating for high losses and enhancing optical performance. The biosensing capability of TANIs is also demonstrated with the sensing of biotin, such that a strong biotin-phase response relationship is formed with a limit of detection of 0.842 ng/ml. This study contributes valuable insights into the electrical, optical and biosensing properties of TANIs, providing direction for sensing applications, where the optimization of the TANIs structure could bring about advancements in optical performance and pave the way for the potential design of novel plasmonic sensors.

Investigating SERS performance of controllable fabricated Ag periodic nanostructures with morphologies of nanoclaws and nanocones in detecting SARS-CoV-2 S protein

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy plays an important role in enabling high-precision detection and non-invasive diagnostics. Periodic metallic nanostructures with strong electromagnetic fields and tunable localized surface plasmon resonance can achieve high SERS sensitivity, but fabricating such nanostructures remains a challenge. In this work, the anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nanocavity template-assisted process of fabricating periodic nanostructures with modulating morphologies from Ag nanoclaws (AgNCWs) to Ag nanocones (AgNCEs) is proposed. The morphologies-related SERS performances of nanostructures are analyzed by using rhodamine 6 g (R6G) as a probe molecule and the optimized AgNCEs possess a limit of detection (LOD) of 1 × 10−9 M. A sandwich strategy is applied to detect SARS-CoV-2 S protein in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and pharyngeal swab solution (PSS). The ACE2-modified AgNCEs (ACE2/AgNCEs) structure is applied to bind to the SARS-CoV-2 S protein. The 4-MBA and SARS-CoV-2 S antibody functionalized Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) are used as nanotags. By forming the ACE2/AgNCEs-SARS-CoV-2 S protein-nanotags sandwich structure, characteristic peak intensities of 1580 cm−1 are used as the report signal, and the LOD for SARS-CoV-2 S protein in PBS and PSS solution are 10 fg/mL.

LSPR-assisted W18O49/ZnO S-scheme heterojunction for efficient photocatalytic CO2N-formylation of aniline

Designing highly efficient photocatalyst for the valorization of CO2 is an ideal strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and utilize solar energy. In this study, a S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst is fabricated by solvothermal impregnation of ZnO on W18O49 for photocatalytic CO2N-formylation of aniline. The localized surface plasmon resonance effect of W18O49 improves the absorption capacity for long-wave light significantly, and the hot electrons generated in W18O49 with a high energy can migrate to the conduction band of ZnO and thus enhance the photocatalytic reduction ability. Meanwhile, the S-scheme heterojunction facilitates the separation of photoinduced charge carriers and preserves the redox ability of W18O49/ZnO composite photocatalyst. The conversion of aniline reaches 99.1% after 5 h reaction under visible light irradiation at room temperature with an N-formylaniline selectivity of 100%. A possible photocatalytic reaction mechanism is proposed. This study paves a promising way for the design of highly efficient photocatalyst and the sustainable utilization of CO2.

Tapered optical fiber LRSPR biosensor based on gold nanoparticle amplification for label-free BSA detection

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based fiber optic sensors are widely used in biosensing and associated analysis of biomolecular interactions. However, the limited penetration depths of conventional SPR (CSPR, <300 nm) and localized SPR (LSPR, <200 nm) restrict their applications in specific biosensing as the surface immobilized biomolecules, i. e. antibody or aptamer, will shield the plasma wave from the target. To solve the problem, an optical fiber long range SPR (LRSPR) biosensor based on Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) amplification is developed for bovine serum albumin (BSA) detection. The single mode fiber spliced between two multimode fibers is firstly tapered for the enhancement of evanescent field, then deposited with Al2O3-Ag-Au multilayers to stimulate LRSPR and realize micron-scale larger penetration depth, finally modified with the BSA antibody by covalent bonding to specifically recognize the target biomolecule. AuNPs are introduced to improve the sensitivity after the BSA antigen-antibody combination is accomplished, taking advantage of the plasma hybridization with LRSPR and their high mass ratio. A good log-linear spectral response is obtained at the BSA concentration range of 1 ng/mL-10 mg/mL, with high sensitivity of 19.46 nm/log(ng/mL) and low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3 ng/mL. The sensitivity of LRSPR is improved 5.6-fold and the minimum detectable BSA concentration is reduced 4 orders of magnitude by introducing AuNPs amplification. Moreover, the designed sensor shows the merits of high specificity, good stability and fast response, making it of great potential for trace biosensing applications.

In-situ synthesis and integration of gold nanoparticles into 3D printed optical fiber probes

This work uses the polymeric reduction method to explore the in-situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) within 3D-printed optical fiber probes (OFPs). Digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing is employed to fabricate the OFPs using a resin consisting of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA). After printing, OFPs were immersed in a boiling gold precursor solution to facilitate the synthesis of AuNPs inside the polymer matrix. We produced single material (HEMA/PEGDA) and multimaterial (HEMA/PEGDA + Dentaclear) OFPs loaded with AuNPs at different concentrations. Scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed the effective distribution and dispersion of AuNPs within the polymer matrix. The optical properties, including reflection and transmission spectra, are comprehensively measured using customized setups. The localized surface plasmon resonance of the embedded AuNPs created a distinct dip in the 500–600 nm wavelength range. Higher AuNP concentrations and longer dipping times enhanced light absorption, reducing reflection and transmission intensities. Multimaterial OFPs also exhibited tunable wavelength filtering capabilities based on the AuNP concentration. The AuNP-loaded OFPs demonstrated stable optical performance across varying temperatures and pH environments, highlighting their potential for diverse applications.

A bi-directional metamaterial perfect absorber based on gold grating and TiO2-InAs normal hexagonal pattern film

We present and study a bidirectional metamaterial-perfect absorber based on TiO2-InAs regular hexagonal pattern thin films and gold grating. We employ the finite difference time domain approach for simulation. Multi-narrowband perfect absorption and ultra-wideband perfect absorption can alternate as the light source's direction changes. Four narrow-band absorption peaks developed at 987 nm, 1188 nm, 1510 nm, and 2091 nm, respectively, when the incident light struck the bottom. The corresponding absorption efficiencies were 99.69 %, 99.41 %, 98.54 %, and 98.97 %. The broadband region displays the properties of perfect absorption when incident light strikes the top. It should be noted that it is not affected by the polarization or angle of the incidence. With an average absorption efficiency of 96.02 %, the structure attains over 90 % absorption in the 3023 nm range (424–3447 nm). Second, the weighted absorption efficiency of the full spectrum is as high as 96.84 %, and the AM 1.5 solar radiation spectrum and the solar absorption spectrum are strongly coincident. Furthermore, the computation results show that the thermal radiation efficiency is greater than 95 % between 300 K and 1500 K. The electric field distribution revealed that the Fabry-Perot cavity resonance within the film, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) on the surface of the InAs and TiO2 regular hexagonal pattern films, the interstitial mode excitation between the films, and the excitation cavity coupling between cells of each unit were primarily responsible for the perfect absorption of broadband. The high-order resonant coupling in the FP cavity and the strong coupling between the local surface plasmon resonance and the FP cavity resonance in the metal grating's slit are the primary causes of the narrow band's perfect absorption. The suggested bidirectional metamaterial perfect absorber has significant promise for use in the disciplines of sensing, solar energy absorption, photoelectric detection, and photothermal conversion, as evidenced by its superb absorption and thermal radiation characteristics.

Highly sensitive colorimetric method for the detection of organophosphorus pesticides based on H2O2 etching of silver-coated gold nanostars

The residues of organophosphorus pesticides in agricultural production and soil constitute a significant threat to both human health and ecosystems, underscoring the critical importance of developing effective detection methods for these pesticides. Here, we introduce an innovative method for detecting trichlorfon that integrates hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced etching of silver-coated gold nanostars (AuNS@Ag) with an enzymatic reaction cascade. By precisely controlling the thickness of the silver layer and the morphology of the gold nanoparticle core, we enhance the sensitivity of the H2O2 etching process. In this detection system, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) catalyzes the hydrolysis of acetylcholine chloride (ACh) into choline, which is then oxidized by choline oxidase (ChOx) to produce H2O2. The generated H2O2 subsequently etches the silver layer of AuNS@Ag, leading to a pronounced red-shift in the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) wavelength, from 590 nm to 735 nm. However, the presence of trichlorfon inhibits the activity of AChE, resulting in a reduced production of H2O2 and a subsequent attenuation of the LSPR wavelength shift. Under optimized experimental conditions, this method enables the linear detection of trichlorfon within a concentration range of 0.1–5.0 μg mL−1 and has been successfully applied to detect trichlorfon in cabbage and tap water samples, showcasing its promising potential in food safety and environmental monitoring.

Al@Al2O3 core-shell plasmonic design for the dilemma between high responsivity and low dark current of MoS2 photodetector

The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect induced by metal nanoparticles (NPs) can solve the problem of low light absorption in two-dimensional (2D) materials limited by atomic scale. However, the accompanying problem is the rise in dark current due to plenty of electrons from metal NPs injecting into the 2D materials, which decreases the performance of plasmonic photodetectors. Here, we designed the structure of Al NPs coated with Al2O3 by low temperature oxidation treatment method to balance the dilemma between high photoresponse and low dark current. Raman spectrum and finite-difference time-domain simulations were used to verify that Al2O3 does not affect the LSPR effect of Al NPs. Compared to that of the pristine MoS2/Al photodetector, the MoS2/Al@Al2O3 plasmonic photodetector achieved a fourfold decrease in dark current, threefold increase in detectivity, and 1.5-fold increase in responsivity. As a result, the optimized plasmonic device achieves a high responsivity of ∼1719 A/W, an excellent detectivity of ∼6.0 × 1011 Jones, and an ultra-fast response speed of ∼15 ns. Our work reveals that constructing metal NPs covered by ultra-thin oxide layer is a feasible strategy for plasmonic photodetectors to decrease dark current and achieve high performance index.

Au@Ag hollow nanoshells-based SERS integrated microfluidic chip as a sample-to-answer platform for the ultra-sensitive detection of geosmin

BackgroundGeosmin (GSM) can compromise the immune systems of aquatic organisms, rendering them more vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections, thereby adversely affecting their growth, reproduction, yield, and quality. Given the relatively low odor thresholds of GSM, there is a critical demand for the development of a highly sensitive and rapid detection method. According to the principle of Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) greatly enhances the Raman signals of adsorbed molecules. To date, no study has reported the application of SERS to detect GSM. ResultsDual-metal nanomaterials with hollow structures have been proven to provide a large surface area and heightened localized surface plasmon resonance, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of Raman signals. In this study, a sample-to-answer platform was constructed by integrating Au@Ag hollow nanoshells (HNSs)-based SERS and a microfluidic chip for the sensitive, fast, and direct determination of GSM. Under 532 nm excitation, GSM exhibit Raman peaks on the SERS-active Au@Ag HNSs, and there is a relationship between the peak intensity and the concentration of GSM. Owing to the integration of the microfluidic chip, only microliters of reagent are required, and the test results can be achieved within 4 min. The constructed sample-to-answer platform showed a good linear response to GSM in the range of 1 ng/L–1 mg/L, with a detection limit of 0.16 ng/L. An optimal calibration model is established by combining stoichiometric algorithms. SignificanceThis work realized the ultra-highly sensitive and fast determination of GSM based on SERS-active Au@Ag HNSs, which provides new insights and is very promising for the on-site monitoring of earthy odors. Our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because the developed SERS-based detection method does not require labels or biomaterials, providing the possibility of highly sensitive and on-site testing of contaminants in food and the environment.

Magnetic optimizing surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) strategy of detection and in-situ monitoring of photodegradation of Benzo[a]pyrene in water

BackgroundPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the most dangerous persistent organic pollutants in the environment. Due to the discharge of chemical plants and domestic water, the existence of PAHs in sea water and lake water is harmful to human health. A method for rapid detection and removal of PAHs in water needs to be developed. ResultsIn this work, we fabricate Fe3O4 wrapped with gold nanoparticles decorated graphene oxide composite nanomaterial (Fe3O4/GO/Au). Excellent magnetism of Fe3O4 provides a means to enrich and separate the PAHs from substrates, which effectively improve the selectivity and avoid the coffee ring effect in traditional SERS detection. Fe3O4/GO/Au shows great response to PAHs owing to the π-π electronic interaction between PAHs and GO, and through the calculation of Material Studio, it is confirmed that GO has different adsorption capacity for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with different number of benzene rings. The limit of detection (LOD) of Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) can reach 3.8 μg⋅L−1 and other PAHs can also be detected at μg⋅L−1 level. Gold nanoparticles demonstrate prominent light absorption within the visible spectrum and are characterized by their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties. Meanwhile, Au NPs facilitate electron migration and carrier separation of GO. Owing to the synergistic interplay, the composite system Fe3O4/GO/Au exhibits the capability for SERS sensitive detection and photocatalytic degradation of BaP under visible light irradiation, realizing in-situ monitor the photodegradation of BaP in water. Significance and noveltyA rapid and accurate quantitative method is established for the detection and removal of PAHs in water, which is intended to provide new strategy for the quantitative analysis and removal of water environmental pollution.

Enhanced anti-bacterial properties and thermal regulation via photothermal conversion with localized surface plasmon resonance effect in cotton fabrics

Enhanced anti-bacterial properties and thermal regulation are realized in cotton fabrics cross-linked with hybrid poly(di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol methacrylate) nanogels containing gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), denoted as hybrid P(MA-co-MA300-co-EGMA)/Au nanogels. Pure P(MA-co-MA300-co-EGMA) nanogels are synthesized by emulsion polymerization as carriers and then embedded with Au NPs via in-situ reduction. By applying 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid as a cross-linker and changing the amount of hybrid P(MA-co-MA300-co-EGMA)/Au nanogels in solution, the weight gain ratios of hybrid nanogels on cotton fabrics are set as 10 % (CHN-10) and 20 % (CHN-20). Due to the densely packed structure of the hybrid nanogels on the surface, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of the Au NPs improves the photothermal conversion capability and converts the absorbed light energy into thermal energy. Simply illuminating with visible light, the surface temperature of CHN-20 pronouncedly increases from 20.4 to 43.0 °C in 50 s. The increased local temperature induces the denaturation of protein and the death of bacteria on the surface. Thus, an illumination with visible light for 2 h results in an anti-bacterial rate for S. aureus of 100 % for CHN-20. Additionally, it presents an excellent thermal regulation capability via photothermal conversion and can be used for continuously maintaining human body temperature in cold areas. Because no additional chemical agents and external power source are required for the anti-bacterial properties and thermal regulation, the obtained cotton fabrics cross-linked with hybrid P(MA-co-MA300-co-EGMA)/Au nanogels are eco-friendly and suitable for smart textiles in daily wear.

Gold nanostars and nanourchins for enhanced photothermal therapy, bioimaging, and theranostics.

Photothermal therapy (PTT), a recently emerging method for eradicating tumors, utilizes hyperthermia induced by photo-absorbing materials to generate heat within cancer cells. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have gained reliability for in vitro and in vivo applications in PTT due to their strong light absorbance, stability, and biocompatibility. Yet, their potential is limited by their spherical shape, impacting their size capabilities, electromagnetic enhancement effects, and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Anisotropic shapes have been tested and implemented in this treatment to overcome the limitations of spherical AuNPs. Nanostars (AuNSs) and nanourchins (AuNUs) offer unique properties, such as increased local electron density, improved catalytic activity, and an enhanced electromagnetic field, which have proven to be effective in PTT. Additionally, these shapes can easily reach the NIR-I and NIR-II window while exhibiting improved biological properties, including low cytotoxicity and high cellular uptake. This work covers the critical characteristics of AuNS and AuNUs, highlighting rough surface photothermal conversion enhancement, significantly impacting recent PTT and its synergy with other treatments. Additionally, the bioimaging and theranostic applications of these nanomaterials are discussed, highlighting their multifaceted utility in advanced cancer therapies.

Optimization of NC-LSPR coupled MoS2 phototransistors for high-performance broad-spectrum detection

Abstract In this work, negative-capacitance (NC) and local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) coupled MoS2 phototransistors with a gate stack of HZO/AuNPs/Al2O3/MoS2 are fabricated, and the impacts of Al2O3 interlayer-thickness (T AlO) on the LSPR effect, the tensile strain on MoS2 from the Au nanoparticles (AuNPs), the capacitance matching of the NC effect from Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO) ferroelectric layer and the optoelectrical properties of the relevant devices are investigated. Through optimizing T AlO, excellent optoelectrical properties of phototransistors with a T AlO of 3 nm are achieved: a subthreshold swing (SS) of 25.76 mV/dec and ultrahigh detectivity of over 1014 Jones under 740 nm illumination. This is primarily because the NC-LSPR coupled structure can achieve an ultra-low SS through capacitance matching and a good interface passivation through optimizing Al2O3 interlayer to maintain effective LSPR and strain effects cross the MoS2 to enhance optical absorption and detection range. This work provides a comprehensive analysis on effective distance range of the non-direct-contacted LSPR effect and its combination with capacitance matching of NC effect, culminating in an optimized NC-LSPR coupled MoS2 phototransistor with a good consistency across an array of 30 devices, and offering a viable solution for the preparation of large-area, high-performance and broad-spectrum response 2D phototransistor array.

Plasmonic enhanced OLED efficiency upon silver-polyoxometalate core-shell nanoparticle integration into the hole injection/transport layer

Although organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are considered a mature technology, further enhancements in their efficiency are of paramount importance for advancing their incorporation in high-quality displays and flexible, wearable, electronic devices. In this regard, we propose an innovative approach, focusing on strategic modifications to the hole transport layer (HTL) through the integration of core-shell nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) encapsulated in a tungsten polyoxometalate compound (POM) are embedded within the prototype poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulphonate) (PEDOT:PSS) to form the modified HTL. Our work reveals the pivotal plasmonic role of Ag-NPs in enhancing OLED device performance based on commercially available conjugated polymers. Comprehensive analyses, including UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and electrical measurements, confirm the influence of the POM encapsulated Ag-NPs on improving the device efficiency. This is attributed to the synergistic influence of enhanced hole injection and conductivity and beneficial optical effects (i.e. the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) and, likely, light scattering of the POM-Ag NPs in the core-shell configuration, depending on their diameter), contributing to enhanced carrier balance and exciton recombination rate. Comparison with POM gold NPs (POM-Au NPs) highlights the distinct advantages of POM-Ag NPs. Our work reveals the potential of this innovative approach to contribute to the evolution of high-performance OLEDs, ensuring a visually compelling and efficient future.

Nickel-Induced Dual Carbon Networks Encapsulating Phase Change Materials for Photothermal Conversion and Storage.

Bifunctional phase change materials (PCMs) with efficient energy storage and photothermal conversion capabilities have tremendous potential to be applied in advanced thermal management. However, classical organic PCMs with high latent heat are challenged by poor light harvesting, low thermal conductivity, and leakage risks. Here, we design a unique dual-carbon network with Ni nanoparticles (NPs), confined carbon nanotubes (CNTs) shuttling in carbon honeycombs (CH), namely, CH@Ni-CNTs, to encapsulate paraffin wax (PW) that can facilitate the light capture and photothermal conversion dynamics. Benefiting from the physical adsorption of the hierarchical porous structure, the obtained PW/CH@Ni-CNTs composite PCMs show a high phase change enthalpy of 131.0 J g-1 and long-lasting thermal stability of up to 300 heating-cooling cycles. Moreover, an outstanding photothermal energy conversion efficiency of 96.9% is achieved due to the synergistic effect of the dual carbon network and confined Ni NPs. The CNTs shuttled CH network affords multiple reflection chambers and a thermal conductive pathway, while the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects of Ni NPs concentrate the incident light energy to generate and accelerate the transport of active "hot electron", thus collectively contributing to the excellent photothermal properties of the composite PCMs. This study presents a bifunctional Ni-induced dual-carbon network system for the controllable preparation of composite PCMs, and it sheds light on the photothermal conversion mechanisms.