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Plasmonic Hotspots in Air: An Omnidirectional Three‐Dimensional Platform for Stand‐Off In‐Air SERS Sensing of Airborne Species
Author(s) -
PhanQuang Gia Chuong,
Lee Hiang Kwee,
Teng Hao Wen,
Koh Charlynn Sher Lin,
Yim Barnabas Qinwei,
Tan Eddie Khay Ming,
Tok Wee Lee,
Phang In Yee,
Ling Xing Yi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201802214
Subject(s) - plasmon , materials science , omnidirectional antenna , laser , surface enhanced raman spectroscopy , nanotechnology , raman spectroscopy , surface plasmon resonance , optoelectronics , nanoparticle , optics , raman scattering , antenna (radio) , computer science , physics , telecommunications
Molecular‐level airborne sensing is critical for early prevention of disasters, diseases, and terrorism. Currently, most 2D surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates used for air sensing have only one functional surface and exhibit poor SERS‐active depth. “Aerosolized plasmonic colloidosomes” (APCs) are introduced as airborne plasmonic hotspots for direct in‐air SERS measurements. APCs function as a macroscale 3D and omnidirectional plasmonic cloud that receives laser irradiation and emits signals in all directions. Importantly, it brings about an effective plasmonic hotspot in a length scale of approximately 2.3 cm, which affords 100‐fold higher tolerance to laser misalignment along the z ‐axis compared with 2D SERS substrates. APCs exhibit an extraordinary omnidirectional property and demonstrate consistent SERS performance that is independent of the laser and analyte introductory pathway. Furthermore, the first in‐air SERS detection is demonstrated in stand‐off conditions at a distance of 200 cm, highlighting the applicability of 3D omnidirectional plasmonic clouds for remote airborne sensing in threatening or inaccessible areas.