title: In situ SERS monitoring of photochemistry within a nanojunction reactor.
abstract: We demonstrate a powerful SERS-nanoreactor concept composed of self-assembled gold nanoparticles (AuNP) linked by the sub-nm macrocycle cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]). The CB[n] functions simultaneously as a nanoscale reaction vessel, sequestering and templating a photoreaction within, and also as a powerful SERS-transducer through the large field enhancements generated within the nanojunctions that CB[n]s define. Through the enhanced Raman fingerprint, the real-time SERS-monitoring of a prototypical stilbene photoreaction is demonstrated. By choosing the appropriate CB[n] nanoreactor, selective photoisomerism or photodimerization is monitored in situ from within the AuNP-CB[n] nanogap.
authors.affiliation: NanoPhotonics Centre, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge , Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Coulston
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biedermann
authors.forename: Sumeet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.forename: Jeremy J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Baumberg
authors.forename: Oren A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Scherman
mesh_terms: D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010777:Photochemistry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance; D013499:Surface Properties; D047028:Macrocyclic Compounds; D000099246:Cucurbit(n)urils
chemical_list: D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D006046:Gold; D007093:Imidazoles; C507827:cucurbit(10)uril; D047028:Macrocyclic Compounds; D000099246:Cucurbit(n)urils