Plasmonic enhancement of fluorescence for sensor applications

Ondrej Stranik; Colette McDonagh; Brian D. MacCraith

doi:10.1117/12.545647

15 September 2004 Plasmonic enhancement of fluorescence for sensor applications

Ondrej Stranik, Colette McDonagh, Brian D. MacCraith

Proceedings Volume 5450, Photonic Crystal Materials and Nanostructures; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.545647
Event: Photonics Europe, 2004, Strasbourg, France

Abstract

It is well established that the presence of metallic surfaces or particles in the vicinity of a fluorophore can dramatically increase the radiative decay rate, and consequently the quantum efficiency, of the fluorophore. This effect, which depends on parameters such as metal particle size and fluorophore-particle separation, is manifest as a substantial enhancement in fluorescence emission intensity. This presentation will focus on optimisation strategies to maximise the enhancement for important applications such as fluorescence-based biochip platforms. Ordered arrays of metallic nano-islands were fabricated on a range of substrates by a process of natural lithography using monodisperse polystyrene nanospheres. The metal particle dimensions were tailored in order to match the plasmon resonance wavelength to the spectral absorption of the fluorophore. The fluorophore Cy5 dye, which is widely used in optical immunoassays and has a medium quantum efficiency (~0.3), was used in this study of the plasmonic enhancement effect. The morphology of the metallic arrays was investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). Absorption and emission spectroscopies were used to elucidate the enhancement effect and its dependence on metal island morphology. Results were correlated with existing theoretical models. The applicability of this important technique to sensor platforms, such as fluorescence-based biochips, will be discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Ondrej Stranik, Colette McDonagh, and Brian D. MacCraith "Plasmonic enhancement of fluorescence for sensor applications", Proc. SPIE 5450, Photonic Crystal Materials and Nanostructures, (15 September 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.545647

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