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Toyouchi S, Wolf M, Hirai K, Fujita Y, Inose T, Fortuni B, Fron E, Hofkens J, De Feyter S, Hutchison J, Fukaminato T, Uji-I H. A Sub-Diffraction-Limit Dimension All-Plasmonic Optical Memory Using Non-Linear Photochromism. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2025:e2502890. [PMID: 40344480 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202502890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2025] [Revised: 04/08/2025] [Indexed: 05/11/2025]
Abstract
The development of compact, high-speed, and energy-efficient optical memories remains a significant challenge in photonic and plasmonic technologies. Conventional optical memories are inherently limited by light diffraction, restricting miniaturization and causing inefficient energy transfer. A promising strategy to overcome these limitations is using propagating surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), enabling the confinement and propagation of optical fields along metal interfaces, and allowing photonic devices to scale down to sub-diffraction-limit dimensions. This work presents an all-plasmonic optical memory system based on silver nanowires (AgNWs) coated with photochromic diarylethene (DAE). By utilizing SPPs, reversible Write/Erase functions are achieved through multiphoton excitation, modulating the photostationary state of DAE. The refractive index changes regulate SPP propagation efficiency along the AgNW, with the memory state being read via plasmonic second-harmonic generation. The synergy between nonlinear plasmonics in AgNWs and the photochromic properties of DAE enables complete memory operations, including writing, erasing, and reading ON/OFF states. This sub-diffraction-limit system paves the way for ultra-compact, molecular-scale optical memory devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuichi Toyouchi
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Mathias Wolf
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Kenji Hirai
- Research Institute for Electronic Science (RIES), Hokkaido University, N20W10, Kita ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Fujita
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
- Toray Research Center, Inc., Sonoyama 3-3-7, Otsu, Shiga, 520-8567, Japan
| | - Tomoko Inose
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan
| | - Beatrice Fortuni
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Eduard Fron
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Johan Hofkens
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Steven De Feyter
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - James Hutchison
- Max Plank Institute for Polymer Research, D-55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tsuyoshi Fukaminato
- School of Chemistry and ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Hiroshi Uji-I
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
- Research Institute for Electronic Science (RIES), Hokkaido University, N20W10, Kita ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan
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Gholami M, Tajabadi F, Taghavinia N, Moshfegh A. Chemically-stable flexible transparent electrode: gold-electrodeposited on embedded silver nanowires. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17511. [PMID: 37845253 PMCID: PMC10579339 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44674-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Silver nanowires (AgNWs) with a low diameter, high aspect ratio, stable suspension, and easy synthesis have recently attracted the optoelectronic industry as a low-cost alternative to indium tin oxide transparent conductive films. However, silver nanowires are not chemically stable, and their conductivity diminishes over time due to reactions with atmospheric components. This is a bottleneck for their wide industrial applications. In this study, we aim to address this issue by synthesizing silver nanowires with an average diameter of approximately 65 nm and a length of approximately 13 µm. The prepared Ag nanowires are then applied to fabricate transparent, flexible, and chemically stable conductive films. The fabrication includes spraying of silver nanowires suspension on a glass substrate followed by Dr. blade coating of polystyrene (PS) solution and delamination of the PS-AgNWs film. The resulting film exhibits an optimum sheet resistance of 24 Ω/□ and transmittance of 84%. To further enhance the stability of the transparent conductive film, the facial and scalable double pulse electrodeposition method is used for coating of gold on the exposed surface of the AgNWs embedded in PS. The final transparent film with gold coating demonstrates a remarkable stability under harsh conditions including long exposure to UV light and nitric acid solution. After 100 min of UV/Ozone treatment, the increase in sheet resistance of the optimal PS-AgNW@Au sample is 15.6 times lower than the samples without gold coating. In addition, the change in sheet resistance after 2000 bending cycles in the optimal PS-AgNW@Au electrode is measured and it showed an increase of only 22% of its initial sheet resistance indicating its good flexibility. The proposed electrode performs an excellent chemical stability, good conductivity, transparency, and flexibility that makes it a potential candidate for various optoelectronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Gholami
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, 11155-9161, Iran
| | - Fariba Tajabadi
- Department of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Materials and Energy Research Center, PO Box 31787-316, Karaj, Iran
| | - Nima Taghavinia
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, 11155-9161, Iran.
- Nano Center-Institute for Convergence Science and Technology, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, 14588-8969, Iran.
| | - Alireza Moshfegh
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, 11155-9161, Iran.
- Nano Center-Institute for Convergence Science and Technology, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, 14588-8969, Iran.
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Negm A, Howlader MMR, Belyakov I, Bakr M, Ali S, Irannejad M, Yavuz M. Materials Perspectives of Integrated Plasmonic Biosensors. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 15:7289. [PMID: 36295354 PMCID: PMC9611134 DOI: 10.3390/ma15207289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
With the growing need for portable, compact, low-cost, and efficient biosensors, plasmonic materials hold the promise to meet this need owing to their label-free sensitivity and deep light-matter interaction that can go beyond the diffraction limit of light. In this review, we shed light on the main physical aspects of plasmonic interactions, highlight mainstream and future plasmonic materials including their merits and shortcomings, describe the backbone substrates for building plasmonic biosensors, and conclude with a brief discussion of the factors affecting plasmonic biosensing mechanisms. To do so, we first observe that 2D materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides play a major role in enhancing the sensitivity of nanoparticle-based plasmonic biosensors. Then, we identify that titanium nitride is a promising candidate for integrated applications with performance comparable to that of gold. Our study highlights the emerging role of polymer substrates in the design of future wearable and point-of-care devices. Finally, we summarize some technical and economic challenges that should be addressed for the mass adoption of plasmonic biosensors. We believe this review will be a guide in advancing the implementation of plasmonics-based integrated biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Negm
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Matiar M. R. Howlader
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Ilya Belyakov
- Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Mohamed Bakr
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Shirook Ali
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Technology, Sheridan College, Brampton, ON L6Y 5H9, Canada
| | | | - Mustafa Yavuz
- Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
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Molecular-Scale Plasmon Trapping via a Graphene-Hybridized Tip-Substrate System. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15134627. [PMID: 35806751 PMCID: PMC9267308 DOI: 10.3390/ma15134627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
We theoretically investigated the plasmon trapping stability of a molecular-scale Au sphere via designing Au nanotip antenna hybridized with a graphene sheet embedded Silica substrate. A hybrid plasmonic trapping model is self-consistently built, which considers the surface plasmon excitation in the graphene-hybridized tip-substrate system for supporting the scattering and gradient optical forces on the optical diffraction-limit broken nanoscale. It is revealed that the plasmon trapping properties, including plasmon optical force and potential well, can be unprecedentedly adjusted by applying a graphene sheet at proper Fermi energy with respect to the designed tip-substrate geometry. This shows that the plasmon potential well of 218 kBT at room temperature can be determinately achieved for trapping of a 10 nm Au sphere by optimizing the surface medium film layer of the designed graphene-hybridized Silica substrate. This is explained as the crucial role of graphene hybridization participating in plasmon enhancement for generating the highly localized electric field, in return augmenting the trapping force acting on the trapped sphere with a deepened potential well. This study can be helpful for designing the plasmon trapping of very small particles with new routes for molecular-scale applications for molecular-imaging, nano-sensing, and high-sensitive single-molecule spectroscopy, etc.
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Wang J, Zhang H, Tang Y, Wen M, Yao B, Yuan S, Zhang W, Lei H. Metal-Nanostructure-Decorated Spider Silk for Highly Sensitive Refractive Index Sensing. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:1060-1066. [PMID: 35212530 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Highly sensitive detection of refractive index (RI) is essential for the analysis of the bio-microenvironment and basic cellular reactions. To achieve this, optic-fiber RI sensors based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) have been widely used for their flexibility and high sensitivity. However, the current optic-fiber RI sensors are mainly fabricated using glass, which makes them face the challenges in biocompatibility and biosafety. In this work, a RI sensor with high sensitivity is fabricated using metal-nanostructure-decorated spider silk. The spider silk, which is directly dragged from Araneus ventricosus, is natural protein-based biopolymer with low attenuation, good biocompatibility and biodegradability, large RI, great flexibility, and easy functionalization. Hence, the spider silk can be an ideal alternative to glass for sensing in biological environments with a wide RI range. Different kinds of metal nanostructures, such as gold nanorods (GNRs), gold nanobipyramids (GNBP), and Ag@GNRs, are decorated on the surface of the spider silk utilizing the surface viscidity of the silk. By directing a beam of white light into the spider silk, the LSPR of the metal nanostructures was excited and a highly sensitive RI sensing (the highest sensitivity of 1746 nm per refractive index was achieved on the GNBP-decorated spider silk) was obtained. This work may pave a new way to precise and sensitive biosensing and bioanalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiale Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yangjie Tang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Mingcong Wen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Benjun Yao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Shun Yuan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Weina Zhang
- School of Information Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Information Technology, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hongxiang Lei
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
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Zhang C, Xu B, Gong C, Luo J, Zhang Q, Gong Y. Fiber Optofluidic Technology Based on Optical Force and Photothermal Effects. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:E499. [PMID: 31357458 PMCID: PMC6722967 DOI: 10.3390/mi10080499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Optofluidics is an exciting new area of study resulting from the fusion of microfluidics and photonics. It broadens the application and extends the functionality of microfluidics and has been extensively investigated in biocontrol, molecular diagnosis, material synthesis, and drug delivery. When light interacts with a microfluidic system, optical force and/or photothermal effects may occur due to the strong interaction between light and liquid. Such opto-physical effects can be used for optical manipulation and sensing due to their unique advantages over conventional microfluidics and photonics, including their simple fabrication process, flexible manipulation capability, compact configuration, and low cost. In this review, we summarize the latest progress in fiber optofluidic (FOF) technology based on optical force and photothermal effects in manipulation and sensing applications. Optical force can be used for optofluidic manipulation and sensing in two categories: stable single optical traps and stable combined optical traps. The photothermal effect can be applied to optofluidics based on two major structures: optical microfibers and optical fiber tips. The advantages and disadvantages of each FOF technology are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenlin Zhang
- Science and Technology on Security Communication Laboratory, Institute of Southwestern Communication, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bingjie Xu
- Science and Technology on Security Communication Laboratory, Institute of Southwestern Communication, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Chaoyang Gong
- Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber Sensing and Communications (Ministry of Education), School of Information and Communication Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Jingtang Luo
- State Grid Sichuan Economic Research Institute, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Quanming Zhang
- State Grid Sichuan Economic Research Institute, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yuan Gong
- Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber Sensing and Communications (Ministry of Education), School of Information and Communication Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
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Baker JE, Badman RP, Wang MD. Nanophotonic trapping: precise manipulation and measurement of biomolecular arrays. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2017; 10. [PMID: 28439980 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Optical trapping is a powerful and widely used laboratory technique in the biological and materials sciences that enables rapid manipulation and measurement at the nanometer scale. However, expanding the analytical throughput of this technique beyond the serial capabilities of established single-trap microscope-based optical tweezers remains a current goal in the field. In recent years, advances in nanotechnology have been leveraged to create innovative optical trapping methods that increase the number of available optical traps and permit parallel manipulation and measurement of arrays of optically trapped targets. In particular, nanophotonic trapping holds significant promise for integration with other lab-on-a-chip technologies to yield compact, robust analytical devices. In this review, we highlight progress in nanophotonic manipulation and measurement, as well as the potential for implementing these on-chip functionalities in biological research and biomedical applications. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2018, 10:e1477. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1477 This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Baker
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Department of Physics - LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Ryan P Badman
- Department of Physics - LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Michelle D Wang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Department of Physics - LASSP, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Daly M, Truong VG, Chormaic SN. Evanescent field trapping of nanoparticles using nanostructured ultrathin optical fibers. OPTICS EXPRESS 2016; 24:14470-14482. [PMID: 27410600 DOI: 10.1364/oe.24.014470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
While conventional optical trapping techniques can trap objects with submicron dimensions, the underlying limits imposed by the diffraction of light generally restrict their use to larger or higher refractive index particles. As the index and diameter decrease, the trapping difficulty rapidly increases; hence, the power requirements for stable trapping become so large as to quickly denature the trapped objects in such diffraction-limited systems. Here, we present an evanescent field-based device capable of confining low index nanoscale particles using modest optical powers as low as 1.2 mW, with additional applications in the field of cold atom trapping. Our experiment uses a nanostructured optical micro-nanofiber to trap 200 nm, low index contrast, fluorescent particles within the structured region, thereby overcoming diffraction limitations. We analyze the trapping potential of this device both experimentally and theoretically, and show how strong optical traps are achieved with low input powers.
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