title: Detection of charges and molecules with self-assembled nano-oscillators.
abstract: Detection of a single or small amount of charges and molecules in biologically relevant aqueous solutions is a long-standing goal in analytical science and detection technology. Here we report on self-assembled nano-oscillators for charge and molecular binding detections in aqueous solutions. Each nano-oscillator consists of a nanoparticle linked to a solid surface via a molecular tether. By applying an oscillating electric field normal to the surface, the nanoparticles oscillate, which is detected individually with ∼0.1 nm accuracy by a plasmonic imaging technique. From the oscillation amplitude and phase, the charge of the nanoparticles is determined with a detection limit of ∼0.18 electron charges along with the charge polarity. We further demonstrate the detection of molecular binding with the self-assembled nano-oscillators.
authors.affiliation: Center for Bioelectronics and Biosensors, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.
authors.forename: Xiaonan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Yimin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Shaopeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Hong-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Nongjian
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D055672:Static Electricity; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D006046:Gold