An integrated dual-modality microfluidic sensor chip and methods for using the same. In one form, the sensor comprises a patterned periodic array of nanoposts coated with a noble metal and graphene oxide (GO) to detect target biomarker molecules in a limited sample volume. The device generates both electrochemical and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) signals from a single sensing area of the metal-GO nanoposts. The metal-GO nanoposts are functionalized with specific receptor molecules, serving as a spatially well-defined nanostructured working electrode for electrochemical sensing, as well as a nanostructured plasmonic crystal for SPR-based sensing via the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons. The integrated dual-modality sensor offers higher sensitivity (through higher surface area and diffusions from nanoposts for electrochemical measurements), as well as the dynamic measurements of antigen-antibody bindings (through the SPR measurement), while operating simultaneously in a same sensing area using a same sample volume.

The present invention relates to a reusable optical fiber aptasensor using a photo-thermal effect, and more particularly, to a reusable optical fiber aptasensor using white light and a laser. The aptasensor includes a light emitting unit for selectively emitting one of white light and a laser, a sensor unit including a plurality of aptamers, a plurality of gold nanorods, and a silver mirror, a detector for analyzing a wavelength of inputted light, and an optical fiber for connecting the light emitting unit with the sensor unit, and connecting the detector with the sensor unit, wherein the light emitted from the light emitting unit is totally reflected in the optical fiber and irradiated to the sensor unit, and light reflected from the silver mirror of the sensor unit is irradiated to the detector. Accordingly, the aptasensor easily measures concentration of a target material in a sample using the optical fiber.

Plasmonically-enhanced catalytic surfaces and accompanying optics are described herein. These elements facilitate efficient coupling of light energy into a photocatalytic system by way of a surface plasmon. Various compatible optical configurations are presented, with an emphasis on the broadband coupling of light into a single plasmon mode. In an example embodiment, dispersive optics are used to direct polychromatic light onto a grating-embossed SPR-active surface. Dispersive optics allow resonance to be achieved at a wide range of incident wavelengths. Energy then transfers from the excited plasmon to an adjacent photocatalyst. The plasmon mode thus acts as a “funnel” of broadband light energy to the catalytic materials. High-efficiency incoupling and outcoupling from the plasmon mode suggest overall enhancement of catalytic activity, and broad applicability is anticipated due to the inherent flexibility of the system. The catalytic surfaces and optical components can be fabricated as sheets or 3D arrays, justifying industrial-scale manufacturing.

The present disclosure provides a complex having satisfactory dispersibility and stable luminescence characteristics. A complex of the present disclosure includes: a first substance having a property of specifically binding to a target substance; a quantum dot that contains silicon as a main component and that is negatively charged on a surface; and a linker substance that contains a compound represented by general formula (1) below and that covers the surface of the quantum dot, where the first substance has been immobilized on the surface of the quantum dot through the linker substance:

X—L—Si—(R.sub.1)(R.sub.2)(OR.sub.3)  (1)

where X is a basic functional group; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are each independently an alkyl group; and L is an alkylene group.

A memristor-reconstructed near-infrared SPR biosensor with adjustable penetration depth includes a prism, a first non-conductive dielectric film layer, a metal film layer, a second non-conductive dielectric film layer and a conductive dielectric film layer, wherein the prism is configured to generate an ATR (Attenuated Total Reflections) attenuation evanescent wave; the first non-conductive dielectric film layer, the metal film layer, and the second non-conductive dielectric film layer define a sensing unit for achieving a basic sensing function; the metal film layer, the second non-conductive dielectric film layer and the conductive dielectric film layer define a memristive unit; a voltage applying device is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode for applying a bias voltage to the memristive unit so as to realize infrared memristive reconfiguration. A preparation method and a penetration depth tuning method of the memristor-reconstructed near-infrared SPR biosensor with adjustable penetration depth are also disclosed.

A chemical analyte sensor. The sensor has a monolayer of shaped nanostructures, a metal or metallized surface, and analyte confined between the monolayer of shaped nanostructures and the metal or metallized surface. The analyte is confined in the highly absorbing optical cavity of the metasurface defined at the metal or metallized surface.

This invention demonstrates that silver nanoparticles can be synthesized by reducing silver nitrate with sodium borohydride in a presence of surface stabilizer polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinyl pyridine) in order to overcome the aggregation of silver nanoparticles.

A process for sizing two-dimensional nanostructures includes providing the nanostructures to a liquid-liquid interface, providing probe particles to the liquid-liquid interface, obtaining an image of the nanostructures and the probe particles, and processing the image to ascertain a size property of the nanostructures.

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a graphene plasmon resonator that includes a planar patterned layer having a collection of electrically conductive segments, and a collection of dielectric segments, each dielectric segment defined between a corresponding pair of the electrically conductive segments, a graphene layer substantially parallel to the planar patterned layer and overlapping the collection of electrically conductive segments, and a planar dielectric layer between the planar patterned layer and the graphene layer.

An imaging device according to the present technology includes a light source spectral sensor that obtains a wavelength spectrum for light coming from a light source illuminating a measurement target, to detect light for each wavelength, and a multispectral camera that performs wavelength spectral imaging of the measurement target. The light source spectral sensor is configured to be capable of obtaining a spectrum of more wavelengths than those of the multispectral camera.