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Spectral Identification in the Attogram Regime through Laser‐Induced Emission of Single Optically Trapped Nanoparticles in Air
Author(s) -
Purohit Pablo,
Fortes Francisco J.,
Laserna J. Javier
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201708870
Subject(s) - nanoparticle , plasma , excitation , laser , spectroscopy , suspension (topology) , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , nanoengineering , spectral line , nanotechnology , chemistry , optics , physics , chromatography , quantum mechanics , homotopy , pure mathematics , astronomy , mathematics
Current trends in nanoengineering are bringing along new structures of diverse chemical compositions that need to be meticulously defined in order to ensure their correct operation. Few methods can provide the sensitivity required to carry out measurements on individual nano‐objects without tedious sample pre‐treatment or data analysis. In the present study, we introduce a pathway for the elemental identification of single nanoparticles (NPs) that avoids suspension in liquid media by means of optical trapping and laser‐induced plasma spectroscopy. We demonstrate spectroscopic detection and identification of individual 25(±3.7) to 70(±10.5) nm in diameter Cu NPs stably trapped in air featuring masses down to 73±35 attograms. We found an increase in the absolute number of photons produced as size of the particles decreased; pointing towards a more efficient excitation of ensembles of only ca. 7×10 5 Cu atoms in the onset plasma.