Asymmetric split H-shape nanoantennas for molecular sensing

I.G. Mbomson, S. Tabor, B. Lahiri, G. Sharpe, S.G. McMeekin, R.M. De La Rue, N.P. Johnson*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    23 Citations (Scopus)
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    Abstract

    In this paper we report on a very sensitive biosensor based on gold asymmetric nanoantennas that are capable of enhancing the molecular resonances of C-H bonds. The nanoantennas are arranged as arrays of asymmetric-split H-shape (ASH) structures, tuned to produce plasmonic resonances with reflectance double peaks within the mid-infrared vibrational resonances of C-H bonds for the assay of deposited films of the molecule 17ß-estradiol (E2), used as an analyte. Measurements and numerical simulations of the reflectance spectra have enabled an estimated enhancement factor on the order of 105 to be obtained for a thin film of E2 on the ASH array. A high sensitivity value of 2335 nm/RIU was achieved, together with a figure of merit of approximately 8. Our experimental results were corroborated using numerical simulations for the C-H stretch vibrational resonances from the analyte, superimposed on the plasmonic resonances of the ASH nanoantennas.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)395-406
    Number of pages12
    JournalBiomedical Optics Express
    Volume8
    Issue number1
    Early online date21 Dec 2016
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2017

    Keywords

    • biosensor
    • nanoantennas
    • molecular resonances

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