Far-field super-resolution chemical microscopy

Abstract

Far-field chemical microscopy providing molecular electronic or vibrational fingerprint information opens a new window for the study of three-dimensional biological, material, and chemical systems. Chemical microscopy provides a nondestructive way of chemical identification without exterior labels. However, the diffraction limit of optics hindered it from discovering more details under the resolution limit. Recent development of super-resolution techniques gives enlightenment to open this door behind far-field chemical microscopy. Here, we review recent advances that have pushed the boundary of far-field chemical microscopy in terms of spatial resolution. We further highlight applications in biomedical research, material characterization, environmental study, cultural heritage conservation, and integrated chip inspection.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy: Current Understanding, Challenges, and Opportunities

“…to modulate the reaction dynamics and utilizing ICCD or EMICCD as detector to improve the temporal resolution up to subnanosecond level, simultaneously, it is possible for SERS to capture dynamic intermediates at the microsecond level. Meanwhile, structure illumination microscopy (SIM), as a wide-field based super-resolution technique, utilizes a series of sinusoidal illumination patterns to illuminate the sample, which can be combined with SERS techniques . By analyzing interference patterns of SERS aided by a reconstruction algorithm, super-resolution within 100 nm has been achieved on plasmonic nanostructures. , To further improve the temporal and spatial resolution, one can borrow strategies from single-molecule localization microscopy such as STORM and PALM.…”

Far-Field Super-Resolution Microscopy Using Evanescent Illumination: A Review

“…Combining super-resolution methods with other methods are potential research directions that offer multi-dimensional information of samples. For example, chemical detection methods such as Raman and infrared spectroscopy could be realized with SFS method to obtain SR chemical information [94]. Besides, polarization-modulated evanescent illumination could be combined with SFS method to achieve SR orientation imaging [95].…”

SERS microscopy as a tool for comprehensive biochemical characterization in complex samples

“…Far-field super-resolution vibrational microscopy approaches that use, e.g. , the saturation of local vibrations, Raman suppression, or structured illumination are discussed in excellent overviews 4,90 and references therein.…”