Plasmonic enhancement of one-photon- and two-photon-excited single-molecule fluorescence by single gold nanorods

Zhang, W. (2018)

Doctoral Thesis

This thesis is a collection of experimental attempts to enhance photoluminescence of fluorescent molecules and quantum dots with single gold nanorods (GNRs) and relevant applications. Special attention is focused on the interactions between single emitters and GNRs. The idea is to increase the emission of weak emitters by the excellent optical properties of GNRs so that weak light emitters will then be bright enough to be detected and studied individually. We can thus generalize single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy to weakly emitting species which are currently undetectable by conventional single-molecule spectroscopy. The research is important for extending the scope of single-molecule spectroscopy, which is a powerful technique for understanding the dynamic behaviors at the nanometer scale in biological systems and other materials.

• Gold nanorods
• Surface plasmon resonance
• Fluorescence
• Single molecules
• Electrochemistry
• Two photon quantum dots
• Michel Orrit
• Martin Caldarola

• All authors: Zhang, W.
• Supervisor: Orrit, M.A.G.J.
• Co-supervisor: Caldarola, M.
• Committee: Eliel, E.R.; Schmidt, T.; Bouwman, E.; Lippitz, M.; Zhang, H.; Dood, M.J.A. de
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Leiden Institute of Physics (LION), Science, Leiden University
• Date: 2018-06-27
• Title of host publication: Casimir PhD Series
• ISBN (print): 9789085933496
• Name: 2018-20