研究目的
To study dynamics and energy transport in thin molecular films by tagging and probing vibrational modes on different sites of the molecule using surface-enhanced two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (SE-2DIR) extended to dual-frequency experiments.
研究成果
The study demonstrates that symmetry properties of trimer infrared antennas can be exploited to design their plasmon resonances for significant enhancement of cross-peak signals in dual-frequency surface-enhanced 2DIR measurements of thin molecular films. The approach achieves nearly 104-fold raw-signal enhancement of the cross-peak signal for molecular transitions separated in frequency by ca. 550 cm-1, which could not be achieved earlier with plasmonic structures involving a single broadband excitation.
研究不足
The study focuses on the methodology needed to achieve signal enhancement and does not extensively explore how nanometer-scale confinement affects molecular structure and dynamics in thin films. The field enhancement factors of 50-100 correspond to a highly non-linear regime of the molecule-field interaction, which is not fully explored.
1:Experimental Design and Method Selection
The study employs gold trimer infrared antennas designed to localize enhanced fields within the gap formed by their arms. The symmetry of trimer antennas is exploited to individually tune frequencies of the in-plane plasmonic excitations to match molecular transitions of interest.
2:Sample Selection and Data Sources
The benchmark molecule used is 4-azidobutyrate-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (azNHS) dispersed in a polystyrene (PS) polymer film. The molecule has multiple bright vibrational transitions spanning the frequency range from ca. 1000 to 3000 cm-1.
3:List of Experimental Equipment and Materials
Gold infrared trimer antenna arrays fabricated by electron beam lithography (EBL) on CaF2 windows. The arrays are coated with a 10 nm film of azNHS/PS.
4:Experimental Procedures and Operational Workflow
Dual-frequency SE-2DIR measurements are conducted with cross-polarized laser pulses to selectively access appropriate plasmon excitations in resonance with the relevant molecular transitions. The experiments involve sequences of three femtosecond laser pulses.
5:Data Analysis Methods
The enhancement of the cross-peak signals is analyzed by comparing the signal amplitudes in films with and without plasmonic arrays. Numerical simulations of the optical properties of infrared trimer antenna are done with the FDTD method using Lumerical software.
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