Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Artur Movsesyan, Alina Muravitskaya, Lucas V. Besteiro, Eva Yazmin Santiago, Oscar Avalos-Ovando, Miguel A. Correa-Duarte, Zhiming Wang, Gil Markovich, Alexander O. Govorov
Summary: This study demonstrates the possibility of inducing chiral shapes in nanocrystals in a diluted solution using circularly polarized light (CPL). The chiral patterns are created by the electromagnetic retardation effect, with the formation of chiral hot-spot patterns on anisotropic nanocrystals with sharp edges and tips. 2D chirality is more easily induced than 3D chirality, and imprinting 3D chirality on spherical nanocrystals is not possible. Linearly polarized light (LPL) can create chiral nanocrystals on a substrate. This study provides the principles for using CPL and LPL illuminations to create chiral nanostructures.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Linan Zhou, Minhan Lou, Junwei Lucas Bao, Chao Zhang, Jun G. Liu, John Mark P. Martirez, Shu Tian, Lin Yuan, Dayne F. Swearer, Hossein Robatjazi, Emily A. Carter, Peter Nordlander, Naomi J. Halas
Summary: This study demonstrates that the H2-D2 exchange reaction catalyzed by Cu nanoparticles is primarily driven by thermalized hot carriers, with an intriguing intensity-dependent external quantum yield exceeding 100% at high light intensities. Quantum mechanical research suggests that vibrational excitations of the surface Cu-H bond are the likely activation mechanism, supporting the effectiveness of low-energy thermalized hot carriers in photocatalyzing this reaction.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Bowen Kang, Tingting Zhang, Lei Yan, Chengxiang Gou, Zihe Jiang, Min Ji, Li Chen, Zhenglong Zhang, Hairong Zheng, Hongxing Xu
Summary: The control of hot electron and thermal effects induced by plasmonic nanostructures has become a topic of interest. By using plasmonic chiral nanostructures illuminated with different circular polarization states, the circular dichroism signal of absorbed molecules can control the hot electron and thermal effects. Researchers propose an aluminum L-shaped chiral nanostructure system in which the hot electron and thermal effects can be controlled in different regions by changing the chirality of the excitation light. Furthermore, the chiral selectivity effects of double L-shaped nanostructures are investigated for high-resolution photochemical reactions.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lucas Besteiro, Artur Movsesyan, Oscar Avalos-Ovando, Seunghoon Lee, Emiliano Cortes, Miguel A. Correa-Duarte, Zhiming M. Wang, Alexander O. Govorov
Summary: This study explores the possibility of growing chiral plasmonic nanocrystals from nonchiral seeds using circularly polarized light, and introduces a novel theoretical methodology to simulate realistic photogrowth processes. The results demonstrate strongly anisotropic and chiral growth of nanocrystals, even for those with subwavelength sizes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yoel Negrin-Montecelo, Artur Movsesyan, Jie Gao, Sven Burger, Zhiming M. Wang, Sylvain Nlate, Emilie Pouget, Reiko Oda, Miguel Comesana-Hermo, Alexander O. Govorov, Miguel A. Correa-Duarte
Summary: Mastering chirality at the nanoscale is important for scientists in various fields. Recently, researchers have proposed the use of chiral plasmonic nanostructures in photocatalysis to drive polarization-dependent photochemistry. In this study, inorganic nanometric chiral templates were used to assemble gold and titanium dioxide nanoparticles, leading to the formation of plasmon-based photocatalysts with polarization-dependent reactivity. This approach opens up new possibilities for applications in chirality and photocatalysis, particularly in plasmon-induced chiral photochemistry.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Oscar Avalos-Ovando, Lucas Besteiro, Artur Movsesyan, Gil Markovich, Tim Liedl, Kevin Martens, Zhiming Wang, Miguel A. Correa-Duarte, Alexander O. Govorov
Summary: The study demonstrates that chiral light can control chiral plasmonic photomelting by using a chiral DNA-assembled nanorod pair as a model system. The nonlinear chiroptical response of the plasmonic system is attributed to the chiral photothermal effect resulting in selective melting of DNA linker strands. The proposed mechanism can be used to develop chiral photoresponsive systems controllable with circularly polarized light.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jiarong Cai, Wei Zhang, Liguang Xu, Changlong Hao, Wei Ma, Maozhong Sun, Xiaoling Wu, Xian Qin, Felippe Mariano Colombari, Andre Farias de Moura, Jiahui Xu, Mariana Cristina Silva, Evaldo Batista Carneiro-Neto, Weverson Rodrigues Gomes, Renaud A. L. Vallee, Ernesto Chaves Pereira, Xiaogang Liu, Chuanlai Xu, Rafal Klajn, Nicholas A. Kotov, Hua Kuang
Summary: In this study, chiral gold nanoparticles were assembled into nanoporous membranes to achieve high sensitivity to circular polarization through light-induced polarization-dependent ion accumulation. By using suitable modification, a photocurrent as high as 2.41 times higher can be obtained under right-handed circularly polarized light. This technology holds great potential for applications in chiral photonics.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yi Yang, Kaiyu Wang, Majid Khan, Ningneng Hu, Weihai Ni
Summary: Surface scattering of electrons in metal nanocrystals generates hot electrons (HEs) of great significance in practical applications such as photodetection or photocatalytic reactions. This study systematically investigates the HE rates of colloidal Au nanocrystals and their enhancement by Pt cluster adsorption. Among the three types of nanocrystals (nanospheres, nanocubes, and nanorods), Au nanocubes exhibit the highest incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency. The adsorption of Pt clusters on Au nanocrystals leads to a nearly one order of magnitude enhancement in photocurrent, explained by the electromagnetic and catalytic effects of Pt clusters.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Younghyun Wy, Hayoon Jung, Jong Wook Hong, Sang Woo Han
Summary: This article reviews recent developments in the synthesis of gold nanostructures with multiple hot spots and Au-based heterostructures for plasmon-induced sensing and photocatalysis. Gold nanostructures with multiple hot spots exhibit enhanced molecular sensing and surface-enhanced Raman scattering performance, while Au-based heterostructures have shown great promise in photocatalytic reactions. The rational design of these nanostructures can lead to enhanced sensing and photocatalysis.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Anton Yu Bykov, Diane J. Roth, Giovanni Sartorello, Jorge U. Salmon-Gamboa, Anatoly Zayats
Summary: Through transient dynamic measurements, it has been shown that the relaxation of excited hot-carriers in Au/Pt hetero-nanostructures is accelerated through transfer from Au to Pt nanoparticles, leading to improved extraction efficiency of hot-carriers. These findings provide insight into time-dependent behavior of excited compound nanoscale systems and have important implications for engineering nonlinear optical response and hot-carrier-assisted photochemistry.
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Andrea Schirato, Margherita Maiuri, Giulio Cerullo, Giuseppe Della Valle
Summary: Metallic nanostructures with localized surface plasmons (LSPs) provide unprecedented opportunities for advanced photonic materials and devices. The generation and relaxation processes of hot electrons in LSPs have been intensively studied, but their practical applications remain challenging due to the complexity and broad energy range involved. This paper reviews the authors' contribution to understanding ultrafast hot electron dynamics in plasmonic nanostructures, including experimental techniques, numerical modeling, and the design of novel optical functionalities enabled by ultrafast hot-electron dynamics.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yiyi Liu, Tharaka Perera, Qianqian Shi, Zijun Yong, Sudaraka Mallawaarachchi, Bo Fan, Julia Ann-Therese Walker, Christopher J. Lupton, San H. Thang, Malin Premaratne, Wenlong Cheng
Summary: This study investigates the thermoresponsive chiral plasmonic responses of PNIPAM-modified gold nanorods. The modified nanorods exhibit red shifts and enhanced intensities of plasmonic circular dichroism (PCD) peaks at 50 degrees C, while the unmodified ones show no peak shifts and reduced intensities. The enhanced PCD is attributed to the collapse of PNIPAM chains, resulting in the expulsion of water molecules surrounding the chiral plasmonic nanorods and an increase in refractive index. These thermoresponsive chiral plasmonic responses are reversible, general, and applicable to other types of chiral plasmonic nanoparticles.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yiming Wang, Nitya Sai Reddy Satyavolu, Hong Yang, Yi Lu
Summary: This study systematically analyzed the evolution of structural and functional parameters in the growth of Au-Ag nanostructures controlled by two DNA sequences. It deconvoluted the contributions of structural parameters in affecting the plasmonic properties and designed new nanostructures by exchanging DNA sequences.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Artur Movsesyan, Eva Yazmin Santiago, Sven Burger, Miguel A. Correa-Duarte, Lucas Besteiro, Zhiming Wang, Alexander O. Govorov
Summary: This paper addresses the challenging problem of obtaining a microscopic description of hot-electron states in plasmonic nanocrystals, and studies the spatial distributions of photophysical parameters controlling local surface photochemistry. The research shows that while the generation of energetic electrons and holes in small plasmonic nanocrystals with complex shapes is position-dependent and anisotropic, the phototemperature across the nanocrystal surface remains uniform. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for designing efficient nanoantennas for photocatalytic applications.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Miguel Martinez-Calderon, Baptiste Groussin, Victoria Bjelland, Eric Chevallay, Valentin N. Fedosseev, Marcel Himmerlich, Pierre Lorenz, Alejandro Manjavacas, Bruce A. Marsh, Holger Neupert, Ralf E. Rossel, Walter Wuensch, Eduardo Granados
Summary: This research proposes the use of direct-laser nanostructuring techniques on copper substrates to improve the efficiency and robustness of electron photoinjectors. By exciting localized surface plasmons, hot electrons are generated, leading to a significant increase in quantum efficiency. When combined with semiconductor thin-films, the efficiency is further enhanced.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yannan Liu, Cheng-Hao Liu, Tushar Debnath, Yong Wang, Darius Pohl, Lucas V. Besteiro, Debora Motta Meira, Shengyun Huang, Fan Yang, Bernd Rellinghaus, Mohamed Chaker, Dmytro F. Perepichka, Dongling Ma
Summary: Integrating plasmonic nanoparticles into the metal-organic matrix allows for enhanced plasmonic near field effect, increased light absorption, and accelerated charge carrier separation. In this study, a one-step synthesis approach is used to create a junction with an intimate interface between plasmonic Ag nanoparticles and a matrix with silver nodes. The plasmonic effect of Ag nanoparticles on the matrix is visualized, and the transfer of charge carriers from the nanoparticles to the matrix is verified. This system demonstrates highly efficient visible-light photocatalytic H-2 generation, surpassing other metal-organic framework-based photocatalytic systems. This research provides insights into effective electronic and energy bridging between plasmonic nanoparticles and organic semiconductors.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tolga Zorlu, I. Brian Becerril-Castro, Begona Puertolas, Vincenzo Giannini, Miguel A. Correa-Duarte, Ramon A. Alvarez-Puebla
Summary: Hybrid composites of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and nanoparticles are considered optimal materials for various applications. A newly developed method involves preparing a yolk-shell structure consisting of a plasmonic gold nanostar coated with MOF. This configuration exhibits improved colloidal stability, the ability to separate molecules based on size or charge, possible synergy for photocatalysis when combined with gold, and strong optical activity for use as SERS sensors.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvia Soares, Isabel Faria, Fatima Aires, Armanda Monteiro, Gabriela Pinto, Maria Goreti Sales, Miguel A. Correa-Duarte, Susana G. Guerreiro, Ruben Fernandes
Summary: More than 50% of prostate cancer patients are treated with radiotherapy. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) could be used as potential radiosensitizers to overcome the limitations of radiotherapy. This study assessed the biological interaction of different morphologies of AuNPs with ionizing radiation (IR) in prostate cancer cells. The results showed that AuNPs combined with IR decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis, suggesting that AuNPs could improve the efficacy of radiotherapy in prostate cancer cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lin Nan, Jesuus Giraldez-Martinez, Andrei Stefancu, Li Zhu, Min Liu, Alexander O. Govorov, Lucas V. Besteiro, Emiliano Cortes
Summary: This study investigates the influence of hot-spots on photocatalytic reactions by controlling the interparticle distances. It is found that reducing the gap can significantly increase the reaction rate, but further reduction in the distance does not improve the rate significantly. The findings provide valuable insights in designing novel plasmonic photocatalytic platforms.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Artur Movsesyan, Alina Muravitskaya, Lucas V. Besteiro, Eva Yazmin Santiago, Oscar Avalos-Ovando, Miguel A. Correa-Duarte, Zhiming Wang, Gil Markovich, Alexander O. Govorov
Summary: This study demonstrates the possibility of inducing chiral shapes in nanocrystals in a diluted solution using circularly polarized light (CPL). The chiral patterns are created by the electromagnetic retardation effect, with the formation of chiral hot-spot patterns on anisotropic nanocrystals with sharp edges and tips. 2D chirality is more easily induced than 3D chirality, and imprinting 3D chirality on spherical nanocrystals is not possible. Linearly polarized light (LPL) can create chiral nanocrystals on a substrate. This study provides the principles for using CPL and LPL illuminations to create chiral nanostructures.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Charlene Brissaud, Lucas V. Besteiro, Jean-Yves Piquemal, Miguel Comesana-Hermo
Summary: Plasmonic photocatalysis is a research field that utilizes the optoelectronic properties of plasmonic nanomaterials to activate chemical transformations. Compared to traditional photocatalysts, these nanomaterials exhibit new reactivities, including unprecedented control over efficiency and selectivity across a wider solar spectrum. This study summarizes the important considerations in designing plasmonic photocatalytic systems, provides representative examples from the literature, and discusses the role of single nanoparticle measurements and reaction intermediates in characterizing and driving photochemical reactions.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
A. Ramos-Valle, L. Marin-Caba, L. Garcia Hevia, M. A. Correa-Duarte, M. L. Fanarraga
Summary: Repairing genetic defects using exogenous DNA is a major challenge, and the design of effective vectors for encapsulating and delivering DNA to specific cells is crucial. The silica-based particles developed in this study provide stable encapsulation and protection of DNA, even under various stress conditions. The versatility of the design allows for the sequential expression of multiple genes, mimicking viral gene expression cascades, and the method is scalable, reproducible, and cost-effective, making it valuable for the personalized therapeutics industry.
MATERIALS TODAY ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Tolga Zorlu, Begona Puertolas, I. Brian Becerril-Castro, Luca Guerrini, Vincenzo Giannini, Miguel A. Correa-Duarte, Ramon A. Alvarez-Puebla
Summary: In this study, a hybrid material consisting of polystyrene submicrobeads coated with silver nanospheres was designed and synthesized. This material creates a dense collection of electromagnetic hot spots when illuminated with visible light. By subsequently coating the material with a metal framework and adsorbing bathocuproine on it, an optical sensor for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was developed, capable of specifically detecting Cu(II) at ultra-trace levels in various aqueous samples. The detection limits achieved with this method are superior to those of induced coupled plasma or atomic absorption and comparable to those obtained with induced coupled plasma coupled with a mass detector.
ACS NANOSCIENCE AU
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Margarida Carvalho, Rui M. Gomes, Sandra Moreira Rocha, Jorge Barroca-Ferreira, Claudio J. Maia, Lucia Guillade, Miguel A. Correa-Duarte, Luis A. Passarinha, Felismina T. C. Moreira
Summary: STEAP1 is a cell surface protein with important functions in intercellular communication and cell growth. It has potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target for prostate cancer treatment. A molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) was developed on a carbon nanotube-modified screen-printed electrode for specific and selective detection of STEAP1. The MIPs were created by electropolymerization of a mixture of STEAP1 and a monomer, followed by enzymatic removal of the protein to create template cavities for STEAP1 detection. The biosensor exhibited selectivity, sensitivity, and reproducibility for prostate cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yisen Yao, Qiaoqiao Li, Yi-min Ding, Luo Yan, Weiwu Chen, Alexander Govorov, Zhiming Wang, Liujiang Zhou
Summary: The electronic structures and optical properties of lead-free perovskite materials Ln(2)Ti(2)O(5)S(2) were studied, revealing tunable band gap, small exciton binding energy, and potential applications in solar cells and water splitting. The materials also exhibit interesting carrier behaviors and effective masses.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Matthias Plock, Martin Hammerschmidt, Sven Burger, Philipp-Immanuel Schneider, Christof Schuette
Summary: In optical nano metrology, numerical models are widely used for parameter reconstructions. Using the Bayesian target vector optimization method, a finite element numerical model was fitted to a Grazing Incidence x-ray fluorescence data set to obtain the geometrical parameters of a nano structured line grating. Gaussian process, stochastic machine learning surrogate models, were trained during the reconstruction and sampled afterwards to determine the distribution of the reconstructed model parameters. The polynomial order of the finite element ansatz functions was investigated to understand its impact on the reconstructed parameters and model parameter distributions. This study demonstrated the importance of determining numerical parameters for efficient and accurate reconstruction results.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liudmila Trotsiuk, Alina Muravitskaya, Artur Movsesyan, Andrei Ramanenka, Anatol Prudnikau, Artsiom Antanovich, Vladimir Lesnyak, Sergey V. Gaponenko, Alexander O. Govorov
Summary: This article investigates the metal-enhanced photoluminescence phenomenon of semiconductor nanocrystals under nonplasmonic conditions and correlates it with charge exchange processes. The study found that injecting holes into semiconductor nanocrystals can increase the photoluminescence intensity.
Article
Physics, Applied
Oscar Avalos-Ovando, Veronica Bahamondes A. Lorca, Lucas V. Besteiro, Artur Movsesyan, Zhiming Wang, Gil Markovich, Alexander O. Govorov
Summary: Chirality, whether in light or matter, is proven to be practical for biosensing and nanophotonics. However, the understanding of its temporal dynamics is still lacking. Metastructures are proposed as a setup to explore this, as they are optically active and can be built massively. The proposed mechanism involves photothermal responses creating anisotropic permittivity modulations, leading to time-dependent chiral imprinting on metastructures. This effect has not been observed yet, but can be achieved through modern experimental approaches. The implications of these chiral time-dependent metastructures are vast and can lead to numerous applications.
APPLIED PHYSICS REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ecem Tiryaki, Ali Can Ozarslan, Sevil Yucel, Miguel A. Correa-Duarte
Summary: Photocatalysis reactions using plasmon-sensitized titanium dioxide have shown promise in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, TiO2 nanostructures were grown within a high surface area and porous silica aerogel matrix, and their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli was investigated under solar- and visible-light irradiations. The addition of silver-gold nanostars further enhanced the photocatalytic efficiency and antibacterial effect of the composite aerogels under visible light exposures.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Antonio Cid-Samamed, Miguel Angel Correa-Duarte, Andrea Marino-Lopez, Mario S. Diniz
Summary: Carbon-based nanomaterials have become widely used in industries due to their unique properties, attracting increasing attention. However, their toxicity and environmental effects, especially on aquatic biota, require careful study. This research investigated the toxicity of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Ox-MWCNTs) on freshwater bivalves and evaluated their impacts on antioxidant defenses. The results showed a concentration-dependent response of antioxidant enzymes in the bivalves exposed to different concentrations of Ox-MWCNTs, suggesting potential risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health if contaminated animals are ingested.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)