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Carbohydr Polym 2021 Jun 5;262:117909. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Letters, Aksaray University, 68100, Aksaray, Turkey. Electronic address:

Commercially available types of chitin or chitin isolate are usually in powder form and are nanofibrous in microstructure. However, the surface characteristics of natural chitin in the body of insects are currently understudied. Herein, natural chitin film was successfully produced from bio-waste of insect pupae of the Japanese giant silkworm. Read More

Opt Express 2021 Mar;29(7):11181-11193

Optical microcavities are capable of confining light to a small volume, which could dramatically enhance the light-matter interactions and hence improve the performances of photonic devices. However, in the previous works on the emergent properties with photonic molecules composed of multiple plasmonic microcavities, the underlying physical mechanism is unresolved, thereby imposing an inevitable restriction on manipulating degenerate modes in microcavity with outstanding performance. Here, we demonstrate the mode-mode interaction mechanism in photonic molecules composed of degenerate-mode cavity and single-mode cavity through utilizing the coupled mode theory. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Mar 15;18(6). Epub 2021 Mar 15.

Department of Physics, SCSVMV Deemed University, Kanchipuram 631561, India.

The introduction of toxic chemicals into the environment can result in water pollution leading to the degradation of biodiversity as well as human health. This study presents a new approach of using metal oxides (AlO and SiO) modified with a plasmonic metal (silver, Ag) nanoparticles (NPs)-based nanofluid (NF) formulation for environmental remediation purposes. Firstly, we prepared the AlO and SiO NFs of different concentrations (0. Read More

Nanomaterials (Basel) 2021 Mar 17;11(3). Epub 2021 Mar 17.

State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology for Information, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.

Plasmonic optical tweezers with a symmetry-tunable potential well were investigated based on a heterogeneous model of nano-bowtie antennas made of different noble substances. The typical noble metals Au and Ag are considered as plasmonic supporters for excitation of hybrid plasmonic modes in bowtie dimers. It is proposed that the plasmonic optical trapping force around a quantum dot exhibits symmetry-broken characteristics and becomes increasingly asymmetrical with increasing applied laser electric field. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2021 Mar 17;21(6). Epub 2021 Mar 17.

INESC TEC-Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, and Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) are among the most common and powerful label-free refractive index-based biosensing techniques available nowadays. Focusing on LSPR sensors, their performance is highly dependent on the size, shape, and nature of the nanomaterial employed. Indeed, the tailoring of those parameters allows the development of LSPR sensors with a tunable wavelength range between the ultra-violet (UV) and near infra-red (NIR). Read More

Appl Opt 2021 Apr;60(10):2795-2802

A graphene-embedded plasmonic rib waveguide (GEPRW) is designed for the mid-infrared electro-optic modulator. The mode characteristics and electro-optic (EO) modulation performances are simulated and optimized by using the finite element method. The results show that propagation length of 10 and figure of merit of 10 are obtained by adjusting the bias voltage applied to the GEPRW. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2021 ;1309:133-159

Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.

This review presents the main characteristics of metal nanoparticles (NPs), especially consisting of noble metal such as Au and Ag, and brief information on their synthesis methods. The physical and chemical properties of the metal NPs are described, with a particular focus on the optically variable properties (surface plasmon resonance based properties) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering of plasmonic materials. In addition, this chapter covers ways to achieve advances by utilizing their properties in the biological studies and medical fields (such as imaging, diagnostics, and therapeutics). Read More

ACS Nano 2021 Mar 18. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States.

Understanding and controlling the dynamics of active Brownian objects far from equilibrium are fundamentally important for emerging technologies such as artificial micro/nanomotors for drug deliveries and noninvasive microsurgery. However, direct observation and control of unidirectional propulsion of individual nanoscale objects are technically challenging due to the required spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we report visualization and manipulation of unidirectional superfast ballistic dynamics of a single-photon-activated gold nanoparticle (NP) along the liquid-gas interface by four-dimensional electron microscopy (4D EM) at nanometer and nanosecond scales. Read More

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2021 Mar 17;13(12):14718-14727. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Optical Communication Systems and Networks, Department of Electronics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.

Metals were for decades perceived as devoid of interesting optical properties that could be harnessed for optical components and devices. However, with the development of accurate nanofabrication techniques and precise control over architectural parameters, metals can be structured and characterized on the nanoscale. Metallic plasmonic nanomaterials exhibit a number of unique structural and optical properties, which offer the potential for developing new types of plasmonic devices. Read More

Opt Express 2021 Jan;29(2):1147-1161

Guided modes of two-dimensional (2D) material-based plasmonic waveguides are applied in photonic devices because of their strong light-matter interaction within atomically thin layers and unique optical characteristics. Numerical simulations and experiments both play crucial roles in exploring unexpected phenomena at the sub-nanoscale of these materials. To efficiently and precisely compute mode characteristics, a multi-domain pseudospectral method (MPM) exhibiting high accuracy and fast convergence is proposed to study 2D material-based plasmonic waveguides in this study to alleviate the highly computational load of the widely used finite difference time domain or finite element method, as they demand extremely fine grid points or meshes around 2D materials. Read More

Opt Express 2021 Jan;29(2):1023-1036

Manipulating the strong light-matter coupling interaction in optical microresonators that are naturally formed by semiconductor micro- or nanostructures is crucial for fabricating high-performance exciton-polariton devices. Such devices can function as coherent light sources having considerably lower emission threshold. In this study, an exciton-polariton light-emitting diode (LED), made of a single ZnO microwire (MW) and a p-GaN substrate, serving as the hole injector, was fabricated, and its working characteristics, in the near-ultraviolet region, were demonstrated. Read More

Opt Express 2021 Mar;29(5):7210-7219

A moth-eye nanopatterned hole-transporting layer (ME-HTL) is proposed to enhance the device efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), which is fabricated via spontaneous phase separation during spin-coating between poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) and poly (9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO) induced by their surface energy difference. Meanwhile, film morphology characteristics confirm the conformal deposition of the following organic layers and metal electrode on the ME-HTL, indicating the extension of ME nanostructure over all layers in OLEDs. Finally, owning to the disruption of the internal waveguide light at the organic layer/anode interface and the suppression of surface plasmonic loss at organic layer/cathode interface, this device architecture obtained a current efficiency of 78. Read More

Opt Express 2021 Feb;29(4):6188-6198

Graphene plasmons, the electromagnetic waves coupled to charge excitations in a graphene sheet, have attracted great interest because of their intriguing properties, such as electrical tunability, long plasmon lifetime, and high degree of spatial confinement. They may enable the manufacture of novel optical devices with extremely high speed, low driving voltage, low power consumption and compact sizes. In this paper, we propose a graphene-based metasurface which can support a topologically protected graphene plasmon mode with the ability of ultrastrong field localization. Read More

Opt Express 2021 Feb;29(4):5384-5396

Rapid progress in nonlinear plasmonic metasurfaces enabled many novel optical characteristics for metasurfaces, with potential applications in frequency metrology [Zimmermann et al. Opt. Lett. Read More

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2021 Mar 15;13(11):13822-13837. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-Ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka 432-8561, Japan.

Integration of high-sensitivity sensors with multiple sensing performance for the environmental detection of permittivity (ε), conductivity (σ), and the refractive index () is required to support Societies 5.0. However, there are still many sensors with low sensitivity that stand alone. Read More

Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021 Mar 12;23(11):6438-6447. Epub 2021 Mar 12.

College of Science, MIIT Key Laboratory of Aerospace Information Materials and Physics, Key Laboratory for Intelligent Nano Materials and Devices, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, No. 29 Jiangjun Road, Nanjing 211106, China.

Introducing nanostructured metals with ultraviolet plasmonic characters has attracted much attention for fabricating high performance optoelectronic devices in the shorter wavelength spectrum. In this work, platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) with controlled plasmonic responses in ultraviolet wavelengths were successfully synthesized. To demonstrate the promising availability, PtNPs with desired sizes were deposited on a hexagonal ZnO microwire via Ga-doping (PtNPs@ZnO:Ga MW). Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Mar 11;11(1):5723. Epub 2021 Mar 11.

Institute of Semiconductor Engineering, University of Stuttgart, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.

Incorporating group IV photonic nanostructures within active top-illuminated photonic devices often requires light-transmissive contact schemes. In this context, plasmonic nanoapertures in metallic films can not only be realized using CMOS compatible metals and processes, they can also serve to influence the wavelength-dependent device responsivities. Here, we investigate crescent-shaped nanoapertures in close proximity to Ge-on-Si PIN nanopillar photodetectors both in simulation and experiment. Read More

J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis 2021 Feb;38(2):157-167

The modified rigorous coupled-wave analysis technique is developed to describe the optical characteristics of the plasmonic structures with the grating-gated delta-thin conductive channel in the far- and near-field zones of electromagnetic waves. The technique was applied for analysis of the resonant properties of AlGaN/GaN heterostructures combined with a deeply subwavelength metallic grating, which facilitates the excitation of the two-dimensional plasmons in the terahertz (THz) frequency range. The convergence of the calculations at the frequencies near the plasmon resonances is discussed. Read More

Appl Opt 2021 Mar;60(8):2441-2449

In this paper, a - hybrid plasmonic waveguide (HPW) with an asymmetric metal cladding is designed for the mid-infrared polarization rotator (PR). The mode characteristics and polarization rotation performances of the - HPW-based PR are simulated by using the finite element method. Operating at the wavelength of 3. Read More

Materials (Basel) 2021 Feb 10;14(4). Epub 2021 Feb 10.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 77 Legon Accra, Ghana.

The ferromagnetic implant (thermoseeds) technique offers desirable features for interstitial thermotherapy. However, its efficacy has been reported to be limited by issues that are related to the properties of the metal alloys that are used to fabricate them and the high number of thermoseeds needed to achieve therapeutic temperature levels. Here, we present the results of a combination of experimental and computational analysis of plasmonic nanocomposite implants (photoseeds)-a combination of Au nanoparticles (NPs) and poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-as a model material. Read More

Front Chem 2020 21;8:553541. Epub 2021 Jan 21.

College of Electronic and Information, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China.

In recent years, the plasma gap resonance maintained by metal-film-coupled nanostructures has attracted extensive attention. This mainly originates from its flexible control of the spectral response and significantly enhanced field strength at the nanoparticle-film junction. In the present study, the tunability of local surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of nanorods coupled to a gold film is studied theoretically. Read More

Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl 2021 Jan 27;120:111717. Epub 2020 Nov 27.

MEPhI, Institute of Engineering Physics for Biomedicine (PhysBio), Moscow, Russia; Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Sechenov University, Center of Biomedical Engineering, Moscow, Russia; Tomsk Polytechnic University, Research Centrum for Oncotheranostics, Tomsk, Russia. Electronic address:

Having plasmonic absorption within the biological transparency window, titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles (NPs) can potentially outperform gold counterparts in phototheranostic applications, but characteristics of available TiN NPs are still far from required parameters. Recently emerged laser-ablative synthesis opens up opportunities to match these parameters as it makes possible the production of ultrapure low size-dispersed spherical TiN NPs, capable of generating a strong phototherapy effect under 750-800 nm excitation. This study presents the first assessment of toxicity, biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of laser-synthesized TiN NPs. Read More

Opt Lett 2021 Feb;46(3):576-579

Anapole mode is a nonradiative resonance originating from the destructive interference between co-excited Cartesian electric dipole and toroidal dipole moments. With at least two symmetric circulating currents, the anapole mode in all-dielectric nanoresonators provides the opportunity to operate the double perfect electric conductor (PEC) mirror effects. In this work, unlike the conventional metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) nanostructure generating a plasmonic magnetic resonance, two metal components are employed to produce the fictitious images of the middle dielectric, and the whole system can thus excite the doubly mirror-induced anapole mode. Read More

Lab Chip 2021 03 29;21(5):855-866. Epub 2021 Jan 29.

Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0E9, Canada.

Cancer cells shed into biofluids extracellular vesicles (EVs) - nanoscale membrane particles carrying diagnostic information. EVs shed by heterogeneous populations of tumor cells offer a unique opportunity to access biologically important aspects of disease complexity. Glioblastoma (GBM) exemplifies cancers that are incurable, because their temporal dynamics and molecular complexity evade standard diagnostic methods and confound therapeutic efforts. Read More

Curr Pharm Des 2021 Jan 27. Epub 2021 Jan 27.

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, no. 1, Jalan Menara Gading, Taman Connaught, Cheras 56000 Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia.

This review article mainly focuses on the revolution on the synthesis of gold nanoplatform from previous era to the present era. Initially, the gold nanoplatform was widely used by the electrical and electronic industries in their products due to their remarkable properties such as large surface volume, redox activity, fluorescence quenching and optical electronic properties. In this era, due to the invention of localised surface plasmonic resonance, optoacoustic, photothermal and theragnostic characteristics of the gold nanoplatform and their application in biosensor and various diagnostic methods, the pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies started showing their interest in manufacturing of gold nanoplatform and used in their new product development. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2021 Jan 22;21(3). Epub 2021 Jan 22.

State Key Laboratory for Integrated Optoelectronics, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100083, China.

To achieve high sensitivity and multi-mode sensing characteristics based on the plasmon effect, we explored a high-sensitivity refractive index sensor structure with narrow linewidth and high absorption characteristics based on theoretical analysis. The sensor structure is composed of periodic asymmetric ring cavity array, spacer layer and metal thin-film layer. The reflection spectrum of this structure shows six resonance modes in the wavelength range from visible to near-infrared. Read More

ACS Nano 2021 Feb 26;15(2):3188-3200. Epub 2021 Jan 26.

Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2333 CD Leiden, The Netherlands.

Plasmonic photocatalysis hot charge carriers suffers from their short lifetime compared with the sluggish kinetics of most reactions. To increase lifetime, adsorbates on the surface of a plasmonic metal may create preferential states for electrons to be excited from. We demonstrate this effect with O adsorbates on a nanoporous gold electrode. Read More

Chem Asian J 2021 Apr 23;16(7):720-742. Epub 2021 Feb 23.

Centre for Integrative Petroleum Research, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia.

Inducing plasmonic characteristics, primarily localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), in conventional AuNPs through particle size and shape control could lead to a significant enhancement in electrical, electrochemical, and optical properties. Synthetic protocols and versatile fabrication methods play pivotal roles to produced plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which can be employed in multipurpose energy, environmental and biomedical applications. The main focus of this review is to provide a comprehensive and tutorial overview of various synthetic methods to design highly plasmonic AuNPs, along with a brief essay to understand the experimental procedure for each technique. Read More

Front Chem 2020 23;8:628536. Epub 2020 Dec 23.

Key Lab for Special Functional Materials, Ministry of Education, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for High-Efficiency Display and Lighting Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Nano Functional Materials and Applications, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, China.

Cu-based ternary alloy nanocrystals have emerged for extensive applications in solar cells, light-emitting devices (LEDs), and photoelectric detectors because of their low-toxicity, tunable band gaps, and large absorption coefficients. It is still an enormous challenge that regulating optical and electrical properties through changing their compositions and shapes in alloy nanocrystals. Herein, we present a facile method to synthesize CuCdS alloy nanocrystals (NCs) with tunable compositions and shapes at relatively low temperature. Read More

Phys Rev Lett 2020 Dec;125(25):256804

Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, Spain and Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, Spain.

We discuss plasmons of biased twisted bilayer graphene when the Fermi level lies inside the gap. The collective excitations are a network of chiral edge plasmons (CEP) entirely composed of excitations in the topological electronic edge states that appear at the AB-BA interfaces. The CEP form a hexagonal network with a unique energy scale ε_{p}=(e^{2})/(ε_{0}εt_{0}) with t_{0} the moiré lattice constant and ε the dielectric constant. Read More