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Photothermal microscopy: optical detection of small absorbers in scattering environments
Author(s) -
VERMEULEN PIERRE,
COGNET LAURENT,
LOUNIS BRAHIM
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/jmi.12130
Subject(s) - photothermal therapy , microscopy , nanotechnology , materials science , colloidal gold , light scattering , optical microscope , nanoparticle , absorption (acoustics) , spectroscopy , scattering , optics , scanning electron microscope , physics , quantum mechanics , composite material
Summary Photothermal microscopy enables detection of nanometer‐sized objects solely based on their absorption. This technique allows efficient observation of various nano‐objects in scattering media notably gold nanoparticles in cells. The extreme sensitivity of the method and the stability of the signals open numerous applications in spectroscopy, analytical chemistry and bioimaging. This review briefly describes the principle and the main characteristics of photothermal microscopy, with its major advantages and limitations, and exposes the principal applications that have been carried out since its first implementation.