Supplementary_Material-colorpixels-N - Plasmonic nanospherical dimers for color pixels

<p>Supplementary_Material-colorpixels-N for Plasmonic nanospherical dimers for color pixels by Salma Alrasheed, and Enzo Di Fabrizio in Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology</p

Calcium Carbonate Mineralization: X-ray Microdiffraction Probing of the Interface of an Evaporating Drop on a Superhydrophobic Surface

The liquid/air interface of calcium bicarbonate solution drops was probed by synchrotron radiation microbeam scattering. The drops were deposited on a nanopatterned superhydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate) surface and raster-scanned during evaporation by small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering. The appearance of about 200-nm-size calcite crystallites at the interface could be spatially resolved at the onset of crystallization. Diffuse scattering from the interface is attributed to a dense nanoscale amorphous calcium carbonate phase. Calcite was found to be the major phase in the solid residue with vaterite as minor phase

Large-Scale Plasmonic nanoCones Array For Spectroscopy Detection

Advanced optical materials or interfaces are gaining attention for diagnostic applications. However, the achievement of large device interface as well as facile surface functionalization largely impairs their wide use. The present work is aimed to address different innovative aspects related to the fabrication of large-area 3D plasmonic arrays, their direct and easy functionalization with capture elements, and their spectroscopic verifications through enhanced Raman and enhanced fluorescence techniques. In detail, we have investigated the effect of a Au-based nanoCone array, fabricated by means of direct nanoimprint technique over large area (mm²), on protein capturing and on the enhancement in optical signal. A selective functionalization of gold surfaces was proposed by using a peptide (AuPi3) previously selected by phage display. In this regard, two different sequences, labeled with fluorescein and biotin, were chemisorbed on metallic surfaces. The presence of Au nanoCones array consents an enhancement in electric field on the apex of cone, enabling the detection of molecules. We have witnessed around 12-fold increase in fluorescence intensity and SERS enhancement factor around 1.75 × 10⁵ with respect to the flat gold surface. Furthermore, a sharp decrease in fluorescence lifetime over nanoCones confirms the increase in radiative emission (i.e., an increase in photonics density at the apex of cones)

Media 1: Evolution of modes in a metal-coated nano-fiber

Originally published in Optics Express on 05 December 2011 (oe-19-25-25206

Media 3: Evolution of modes in a metal-coated nano-fiber

Originally published in Optics Express on 05 December 2011 (oe-19-25-25206

Media 2: Wave front engineering for microscopy of living cells

Originally published in Optics Express on 07 March 2005 (oe-13-5-1395

Media 3: Wave front engineering for microscopy of living cells

Originally published in Optics Express on 07 March 2005 (oe-13-5-1395

In Situ X-ray Scattering Studies of Protein Solution Droplets Drying on Micro- and Nanopatterned Superhydrophobic PMMA Surfaces

Superhydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate) surfaces with contact angles of ∼170° and high optical and X-ray transparencies have been fabricated through the use of optical lithography and plasma etching. The surfaces contain either a microscale pattern of micropillars or a random nanofibrillar pattern. Nanoscale asperities on top of the micropillars closely resemble Nelumbo nucifera lotus leafs. The evolution of the contact angle of water and lysozyme solution droplets during evaporation was studied on the micro- and nanopatterned surfaces, showing in particular contact-line pinning for the protein solution droplet on the nanopatterned surface. The microstructural evolution of lysozyme solution droplets was studied on both types of surfaces in situ under nearly contact-free conditions by synchrotron radiation microbeam wide-angle and small-angle X-ray scattering revealing the increasing protein concentration and the onset of precipitation. The solid residuals show hollow sphere morphologies. Rastermicrodiffraction of the detached residuals suggests about a 1/3 volume fraction of ≥17 nm lysozyme nanocrystalline domains and about a 2/3 short-range-order volume fraction. About 5-fold larger nanocrystalline domains were observed at the attachment points of the sphere to the substrates, which is attributed to particle growth in a shear flow. Such surfaces represent nearly contact-free sample supports for studies of inorganic and organic solution droplets, which find applications in biochips

Media 2: Evolution of modes in a metal-coated nano-fiber

Originally published in Optics Express on 05 December 2011 (oe-19-25-25206

Media 1: Wave front engineering for microscopy of living cells

Originally published in Optics Express on 07 March 2005 (oe-13-5-1395