Plasmonic sensors are commonly defined
on two-dimensional (2D)
surfaces with an enhanced electromagnetic field only near the surface,
which requires precise positioning of the targeted molecules within
hotspots. To address this challenge, we realize segmented nanocylinders
that incorporate plasmonic (1–50 nm) gaps within three-dimensional
(3D) nanostructures (nanocylinders) using electron irradiation triggered
self-assembly. The 3D structures allow desired plasmonic patterns
on their inner cylindrical walls forming the nanofluidic channels.
The nanocylinders bridge nanoplasmonics and nanofluidics by achieving
electromagnetic field enhancement and fluid confinement simultaneously.
This hybrid system enables rapid diffusion of targeted species to
the larger spatial hotspots in the 3D plasmonic structures, leading
to enhanced interactions that contribute to a higher sensitivity.
This concept has been demonstrated by characterizing an optical response
of the 3D plasmonic nanostructures using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
(SERS), which shows enhancement over a 22 times higher intensity for
hemoglobin fingerprints with nanocylinders compared to 2D nanostructures.
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