Researchers in the US have used a self-assembly method based on viruses and DNA to position almost 200 fluorescent molecules to within a few nanometres of a tiny gold nanoparticle. This accurate positioning of the molecules boosts their fluorescence output and the method could have applications in information processing, sensing and energy technologies.
Electrons in a metallic nanoparticle undergo collective oscillations known as a surface plasmon resonance when exposed to certain frequencies of light. The nanoparticle then behaves as a tiny antenna, concentrating light within a few nanometres of the nanoparticle surface. If a fluorescent molecule – or fluorophore – is placed within this region, the amount of light captured by the molecule can be boosted significantly.
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