title: Silver nanoprism arrays coupled to functional hybrid films for localized surface plasmon resonance-based detection of aromatic hydrocarbons.
abstract: We report the achievement of sensitive gas detection using periodic silver nanoprisms fabricated by a simple and low-cost lithographic technique. The presence of sharp tips combined with the periodic arrangement of the nanoprisms allowed the excitement of isolated and interacting localized surface plasmon resonances. Specific sensing capabilities with respect to aromatic hydrocarbons were achieved when the metal nanoprism arrays were coupled in the near field with functional hybrid films, providing a real-time, label-free, and reversible methodology. Ultra-high-vacuum temperature-programmed desorption measurements demonstrated an interaction energy between the sensitive film and analytes in the range of 55-71 kJ/mol. The far-field optical properties and the detection sensitivity of the sensors, modeled using a finite element method, were correlated to experimental data from gas sensing tests. An absorbance variation of 1.2% could be observed and associated with a theoretical increase in the functional film refractive index of ∼0.001, as a consequence to the interaction with 30 ppm xylene. The possibility of detecting such a small variation in the refractive index suggests the highly promising sensing capabilities of the presented technique.
authors.affiliation: Industrial Engineering Department and INSTM, University of Padova , Padova 35131, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brigo
authors.forename: Niccolo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Michieli
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Artiglia
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scian
authors.forename: Gian Andrea
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rizzi
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Granozzi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martucci
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brusatin