Metals, nanostructured optical sensing

This chapter highlights representative research accomplishments in the area of fundamental and applied studies of the tunable LSPR. Specific applications in the Van Duyne laboratory include exploitation of the LSPR as a signal transduction mechanism for sensing applications and optimization of SERS signals. The optical properties of metallic nanostructures will find future application in the areas of dichroic filters. 

Nanoparticles (NPs), such as nanospheres, nanorods, nanowires, and nanocubes, have attracted extensive attention of material scientists because of their application in many areas of fundamental and technical importance. For example, they can be used to experimentally probe the effects of quantum confinement on electronic, optic, and other related properties [1-3]. They have also been widely exploited for use in manufacturing electronic, photonic, and sensing devices [4-6]. The intrinsic properties of a metal NP are mainly determined by its composition, size, and shape [7]. For studying size- and shape-dependent properties, it is highly desirable to synthesize metal nanostructures with well-controlled size and shape [8]. 

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