NIRT: Rationally Designed Nanosensing Substrates for Chemical and Biodetection

William Marsh Rice University, Houston TX

Investigators

Abstract

EEC-0304097 William Marsh Rice University Halas The objective of this 48-month project is to investigate surface enhanced spectroscopy as a sensing tool for the nanostructure-enhanced chemical and biological detection, with a focus on minimal sample preparation and sample contact. The research goals include: (1) to design, construct and optimize nanostructure-based substrates for ultra sensitive detection of molecules based on Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy, Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, Fluorescence Spectroscopy, and Surface Enhanced Infrared Spectroscopy; (2) to develop a comprehensive fundamental understanding of nanostructure-enhanced chemical detection by accurately modeling the substrate, the molecule and the near field at the substrate-molecule interface., and (3) to apply this fundamental understanding to the chemical detection of small molecules, functional groups characteristic of chemical, biological and explosive agents, to proteins and ultimately to micron-sized protein-coated objects.