Effects of crystallographic facet-specific peptide adsorption along single ZnO nanorods on the characteristic fluorescence intensification on nanorod ends (FINE) phenomenon

Elucidation of Strain-Dependent, Zinc Oxide Nanorod Response for Nanorod-Guided Fluorescence Intensity

In this work, we examine how strain exerted on individual ZnO nanorods (NRs) can influence the fluorescence signals that are emitted from fluorophore molecules and subsequently coupled into and guided along the NR. We elucidate the relationships between the incremental levels of compressive and tensile strain on the NRs and measured fluorescence intensity of a model fluorophore, rhodamine 6G (R6G), as a function of the position on the NRs. We reveal that compressive strain on the NRs leads to a decrease in the guided fluorescence signal, while tensile strain leads to an increase in the fluorescence intensity. Compared to an unstrained state, approximately 35% decrease (increase) in R6G fluorescence intensity was observed from ZnO NRs when they were under compressive strain of -14% (tensile strain of +10%). Further, our systematic acquisition of the incremental addition of uniaxial strain result in a linear relationship of the coupled fluorescence signal and the amount of applied strain. The degree of fluorescence intensification on nanorod ends (DoF), which is a quantitative indicator for the amount of R6G signals coupled into and waveguided to the NR ends compared to those on the main body, also exhibits a linear relationship with strain. These outcomes, in turn, demonstrate that strain alters the waveguiding capabilities of ZnO NRs in a predictable manner, which can be exploited to modulate and optimize fluorescence and other light signals emitted by a nearby source. Considering the wide utility of ZnO NRs in photonics, optoelectronics, and sensors, insights from our study may be highly valuable to effectively controlling and enhancing optical signals from chemical and biological analytes through strain.

Strong Structural and Electronic Binding of Bovine Serum Albumin to ZnO via Specific Amino Acid Residues and Zinc Atoms

ZnO biointerfaces with serum albumin have attracted noticeable attention due to the increasing interest in developing ZnO-based materials for biomedical applications. ZnO surface morphology and chemistry are expected to play a critical role on the structural, optical, and electronic properties of albumin-ZnO complexes. Yet there are still large gaps in the understanding of these biological interfaces. Herein we comprehensively elucidate the interactions at such interfaces by using atomic force microscopy and nanoshaving experiments to determine roughness, thickness, and adhesion properties of BSA layers adsorbed on the most typical polar and non-polar ZnO single-crystal facets. These experiments are corroborated by force field (FF) and density-functional tight-binding (DFTB) calculations on ZnO-BSA interfaces. We show that BSA adsorbs on all the studied ZnO surfaces while interactions of BSA with ZnO are found to be considerably affected by the atomic surface structure of ZnO. BSA layers on the ( 000 1 ‾ ) surface have the highest roughness and thickness, hinting at a specific upright BSA arrangement. BSA layers on ( 10 1 ‾ 0 ) surface have the strongest binding, which is well correlated with DFTB simulations showing atomic rearrangement and bonding between specific amino acids (AAs) and ZnO. Besides the structural properties, the ZnO interaction with these AAs also controls the charge transfer and HOMO-LUMO energy positions in the BSA-ZnO complexes. This ZnO facet-specific protein binding and related structural and electronic effects can be useful for improving the design and functionality of ZnO-based materials and devices.

A polyaniline-coated ZnS/ZnO/FTO photoelectrode for improving photocorrosion prevention and visible light absorption

To enhance the absorption of visible light for wide-bandgap semiconductors, methods such as sensitizing with nanoparticles or quantum dots and bandgap engineering using dopants have been reported.

Position- and Polarization-Specific Waveguiding of Multi-Emissions in Single ZnO Nanorods

We examine multiphoton-produced optical signals waveguided through single ZnO nanorods (NRs) using a newly developed, scanning offset-emission hyperspectral microscopy (SOHM) technique. Specifically, we concurrently analyze waveguiding behaviors of sum-frequency generation (SFG), deep-trap emissions (DTE), and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) occurring in individual ZnO NRs. SOHM acquires spectrally-indexed and spatially-resolved intensity maps/spectra of waveguided light intensity while excitation/emission collection positions and light polarization are scanned. Hence, the powerful measurement capabilities of SOHM enable quantitative analyses of the different ZnO NR waveguiding behaviors specific to the multiphoton-generated emissions as a function of measurement position, light-matter interaction geometry, and the optical origin of the guided signal. We subsequently reveal the distinct waveguiding behaviors of single ZnO NRs pertaining to the SFG-, DTE-, and CARS-originated signals and discuss particularly attractive ZnO NR properties in CARS waveguiding.

Spatially Correlated, Single Nanomaterial-Level Structural and Optical Profiling of Cu-Doped ZnO Nanorods Synthesized via Multifunctional Silicides

We demonstrate a straightforward and effective method to synthesize vertically oriented, Cu-doped ZnO nanorods (NRs) using a novel multipurpose platform of copper silicide nanoblocks (Cu₃Si NBs) preformed laterally in well-defined directions on Si. The use of the surface-organized Cu₃Si NBs for ZnO NR growth successfully results in densely assembled Cu-doped ZnO NRs on each NB platform, whose overall structures resemble thick bristles on a brush head. We show that Cu₃Si NBs can uniquely serve as a catalyst for ZnO NRs, a local dopant source of Cu, and a prepatterned guide to aid the local assembly of the NRs on the growth substrate. We also ascertain the crystalline structures, optical properties, and spectroscopic signatures of the Cu-doped ZnO NRs produced on the NBs, both at each module of NRs/NB and at their ensemble level. Subsequently, we determine their augmented properties relative to the pristine form of undoped ZnO NRs and the source material of Cu₃Si NBs. We provide spatially correlated structural and optical data for individual modules of Cu-doped ZnO NRs assembled on a Cu₃Si NB by resolving them along the different positions on the NB. Ensemble-averaged versus individual behaviors of Cu-doped ZnO NRs on Cu₃Si NBs are then compared. We further discuss the potential impact of such ZnO-derived NRs on their relatively unexplored biological and biomedical applications. Our efforts will be particularly useful when exploiting each integrated module of self-aligned, Cu-doped ZnO NRs on a NB as a discretely addressable, active element in solid-state sensors and miniaturized luminescent bioprobes.

Spatially distinct Raman scattering characteristics of individual ZnO nanorods under controlled polarization: intense end scattering from forbidden modes

In this study, we characterize incident/scattered polarization-specific and NR position-resolved Raman scattering behaviors of individual zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs). We quantify Raman signals from the five key ZnO phonon modes of E_2L, E_2H-2L, A_1T, E_1T, and E_2H, and reveal the NR position-dependent Raman scattering characteristics of the phonon modes per given light-matter interaction geometry. We then present Raman intensity maps and elucidate Raman behaviors consistent and incongruous with Raman selection rules. In particular, we identify an intriguing Raman scattering phenomenon from the forbidden modes, distinctively occurring at the two NR ends. Their unexpectedly strong and localized scattering signals at the NR termini are contrasted by the scattering behaviors from the rest of the NR positions agreeing with the selection predictions. By carrying out control measurements on isotropic ZnO microparticles (MPs), we ascertain that the unique NR position-specific Raman responses observed on ZnO NRs originate from their high shape anisotropy. Owing to the superior optical property coupled with reduced dimensionality and high geometric anisotropy, ZnO NRs have gained much attention recently for use in optoelectronic, photonic, and biosensor technologies. Raman scattering has been increasingly exploited as a noninvasive and sensitive analytical tool to investigate NR properties pertinent to these applications. Hence, our endeavors, explicitly providing the spatially distinct, polarized Raman scattering behaviors from individual ZnO NRs, will be central to the correct interpretation of Raman data of both the individual and ensemble NRs as well as to the accurate correlation of the measurement outcomes to their chemical/physical/optical properties. Our efforts may also promote novel applications for polarized Raman scattering whose optical outputs on the various positions along the ZnO NRs can be selectively modulated.

Polarization-resolved mechanistic investigation of fluorescence signal intensification on zinc oxide nanorod ends

The superior optical properties of zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) have continued to promote their broad use in photonic, photoelectric, light detecting, and biosensing applications. One particularly important property pertinent to biodetection is fluorescence intensification on nanorod ends (FINE), a phenomenon in which a highly spatially localized and strongly intensified fluorescence signal with its extended photostability at the NR ends is seen from the emission profiles of fluorophore-coupled biomolecules on ZnO NRs. Therefore, understanding key parameters affecting the FINE phenomenon and the degree of FINE (DoF) is critical for their applications in biosensors. In this study, we describe in detail the outcomes of polarization-resolved measurements by systematically considering the polarization effects on FINE and DoF as a function of NR tilt angle and position along the NR. Specifically, we elucidate the exact roles of the different states of light polarization in FINE and quantitatively determine the explicit contributions arising from distinctive polarization states to the DoF. We confirm that the presence of the FINE phenomenon is ubiquitous from the fluorophore-coupled ZnO NR systems, regardless of the polarization setting. We subsequently show that DoF is significantly affected by the light-matter interaction geometry. We reveal the specific polarization conditions that contribute dominantly to the FINE effect. The highest DoF from a NR and the greatest NR end intensity can be achieved when both the excitation and collection polarization states are perpendicular to the NR main axis. Insights from this study provide valuable design principles for selecting the polarization state and light-matter interaction geometry to attain maximum FINE as well as DoF on ZnO NRs. The precise understanding of polarization-derived consequences on FINE and DoF manifested differently as a function of the position on individual NRs can also be important for warranting accurate interpretation and quantification of the position-dependent, fluorophore-emitted signals on single ZnO NRs. Hence, our findings from this study can be extremely beneficial in fluorescence-based sensing and detection settings utilizing polarization.