The nature of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on nanostructured surfaces is explored using both inorganic and organic-based systems and a variety of environmental perturbation mechanisms. Experimental optical characterisation systems are developed and existing systems extended to facilitate this exploration. SERS of inorganic semiconducting quantum dots (QDs) is observed for the first time, paving the way for their use as spatially well-defined SERS markers. Tuning of the Raman excitation wavelength allows comparison between resonance and nonresonance QD SERS and identifies enhancement due to the plasmonic nanostructure. A gentle mechano-chemical process (carbon dioxide snow jet) is used to rearrange adsorbed organic thiol monolayers on a gold plasmonic nanostructure. The necessity of nanoscale roughness to the large SERS enhancement on pit-like plasmonic nanostructures is shown and demonstrates a new method to boost SERS signals (> 500 %) on plasmonic nanostructures. A multiplexed time-varied exposure technique is developed to track this molecular movement over time and highlights the different origins of the SERS peak and its accompanying background continuum. Using low-temperature cryogenics (down to 10 K) the SERS peak and background continuum intensity are shown to increase as the plasmonic metal damping reduces with temperature. Temperature dependent measurements of QD (resonance) SERS are shown to have strong wavelength dependence due to the excitonic transitions in QDs. Changes to the QD fluorescence at low temperature allows striking comparison between the Raman and fluorescence processes. The role of charge transfer and electromagnetic enhancement in the SERS intensity of p-aminothiophenol (pATP) is investigated on nanostructured plasmonic surfaces coupled to metallic nanoparticles. The results support the importance of charge transfer effects to the SERS of pATP, and highlight the difference between those of electromagnetic origin. Addition of nanoparticles to the nanostructured surface was seen to enhance SERS signals by up to 100×.

This thesis focuses on the investigation and development of an integrated optical biosensor based on enhanced Raman techniques that will provide label-free detection of biomolecules. This is achieved by using hollow core photonic crystal fibers (HC-PCF), nanoparticles, or both. HC-PCF is a unique type of optical fiber, with continuous ‘channels’ of air (typically) running the entire length. The channels serve to confine electromagnetic waves in the core of the fiber, and tailor its transmission properties. Using HC-PCF as a biosensor requires development of a robust technique to fill hollow-core photonic crystal fibers. Though several groups have reported selective filling of HC-PCF’s core, the processes are cumbersome and limit the choice of liquid to avoid multimode behavior. In my Master’s thesis, I presented a simple technique to non-selectively fill all the HC-PCF channels with samples. The non-selective filling preserves the photonic bandgap property of the fiber, and yields an extremely strong interaction of light and the sample that produces considerable enhancement of the Raman signal from the analyte. Up to now, non-selective filling was accomplished through capillary action and it delivered a Raman signal enhancement of approximately 30-fold, which is not sensitive enough to detect biomolecules at the clinical level. Moreover, there were issues of reliability and reproducibility, due to evaporation, filling and coupling light into the fiber. The objective of this PhD research was to overcome these problems by developing a robust optical fiber platform based on Raman spectroscopy that can be used in a clinical setting. I initially focused on heparin, an important blood anti-coagulant that requires precise monitoring and control in patients undergoing cardiac surgery or dialysis. Since the Raman spectra of heparin-serum mixtures exhibits Raman peaks of heparin with poor signal-to-noise ratios, I concentrated on enhancing the heparin Raman signal and filtering out the spectral background of the serum to improve detection sensitivity. Reaching maximum enhancement of the Raman signal required a strong interaction of light and analyte, which can be achieved by using hollow core photonic crystal fiber as I had used in my Master’s research. Using a small piece of HC-PCF I was able to reach an enhancement in the heparin Raman signal of greater than 90-fold. With this degree of enhancement, I was able to successfully detect and monitor heparin in serum at clinical levels, something that had never been accomplished previously. After developing HC-PCF as a Raman signal enhancer, I focused on making the HC-PCF sensor robust, reliable and reusable. This was achieved by integrating the HC-PCF with a differential pressure system that allowed effective filling, draining and refilling of the samples in an HC-PCF, under identical optical conditions. To demonstrate the device’s detection capabilities, various concentrations of aqueous ethanol and isopropanol, followed by different concentrations of heparin and adenosine in serum, were successfully monitored. To further improve the sensitivity of the HC-PCF based Raman sensor, I incorporated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), by introducing nanoparticles into the HC-PCF fibers. The research focused on determining the optimal volume and size of silver nanoparticles to achieve maximum enhancement of the Raman signal in the HC-PCF. The HC-PCF enhanced the Raman signal of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) approximately 90-fold. In addition, the optimal size and volume of AgNP enhanced the Raman signal of R6G approximately 40-fold, leading to a total enhancement of approximately 4,000 in HC-PCF. This was then used to demonstrate the application of a SERS based HC-PCF sensing platform in monitoring adenosine (a clinically important molecule), as well as malignant cells such as leukemia. Finally, I used hollow core crystal fibers to significantly enhance the efficiency of two-photon photochemistry. Although two-photon photochemical reactions are difficult to achieve with a small volume, I accomplished it by using a novel platform of HC-PCF to efficiently execute the two-photon induced photodecarbonylation reaction of cyclopropenone 1, and its conversion to the corresponding acetylene. The simple optical design configuration involved coupling an 800-nm tsunami laser to a short piece of HC-PCF filled with the sample. This allowed me to increase the efficiency of two-photon induced photochemistry by 80-fold, compared to a conventional spectrophotometer cuvette. Thus, this work leads to the use of HC-PCFs to more effectively study two-photon induced photochemistry processes, which was limited due to the difficulty of detecting photochemical events with a small excitation volume.

Cette thèse s’inscrit dans une volonté de décrire l’impact de la température sur des systèmes hybrides et plus particulièrement sur un système or/polymère. L’utilisation et l’étude des propriétés de l’or en couche mince est un sujet d’actualité comme le montre le nombre important de publications chaque année (>6000). Les domaines d’applications sont nombreux en particulier dans les secteurs de l’électronique, du médical ou de l’énergie… De nombreux facteurs peuvent modifier les propriétés physiques (structure, électrique, optique) des assemblages nanométriques. Dans ce travail, nous avons choisi d’étudier l’influence sur les propriétés physiques de l’assemblage de la température du substrat lors du dépôt des couches minces d’or. Dans une première partie, les effets de la température sur la morphologie des surfaces des assemblages seront mis en évidence par une étude statistique d’images AFM. Afin de réaliser cette analyse nous avons développé une nouvelle méthode d’analyse de surface granulaire nommée - l’Interfacial Differential Function. Nous démontrerons l’efficacité de cette méthode statistique vis-à-vis des méthodes existantes en analysant différentes surfaces modèles et, en extrayant les distances caractéristiques (taille de grains, distance inter-grains). La méthode a ensuite été appliquée avec succès à l’étude de l’évolution de la morphologie de films minces d’or déposés sur silicium en fonction de la température du substrat lors du dépôt. Nous avons ainsi pu montrer que, contrairement à ce qui était décrit jusqu’ici dans la littérature, l’augmentation de la rugosité observée lorsque la température de dépôt augmente n’était pas due à une augmentation de la largeur des grains.Dans une seconde partie, nous étudierons l’évolution de la structure interne des assemblages en fonction de la température de dépôt. La forte influence des propriétés thermiques du polymère sur la structure de l’assemblage nanométrique or/polymère a été mise en évidence par réflectivité de rayons X et par microscopie électronique à transmission. La combinaison de la réflectivité de rayons x associée avec la microscopie à force atomique nous a permis de révéler l’évolution avec la température de la structure qui passe d’une structure stratifiée à basse température à une structure plus complexe de type composite avec la présence de polystyrène en surface pour les hautes températures. Dans une dernière partie, l’impact de la température sur les propriétés électriques, optiques des assemblages sera présenté. Le passage d’une surface conductrice à faible température à une surface isolante à haute température sera mis en évidence via une étude originale basée sur une cartographie de résistance électrique réalisée par AFM. Les propriétés d’exaltation optique seront quant à elles présentées à travers une étude par spectroscopie Raman.En conclusion, les résultats de ce travail seront mis en perspectives par rapport à des applications potentielles telles que l’électronique flexible ou la fabrication de capteurs. / This thesis is part of an effort to describe the impact of temperature on hybrid systems and more particularly on a gold/polymer system. The use and study of properties of gold thin film is a timely topic as evidenced by the large number of publications each year (>6000). The fields of applications are numerous especially in areas of electronics, medical or energy… Many factors can modify physical properties (structural, electrical, optical) of nanoscale assemblies. In this work, we have chosen to study the influence on physical properties of the assembly of the substrate temperature during the deposition of thin layers of gold.In the first part, effects of temperature on the surface morphology of the assemblies will become apparent from a statistical study of AFM images. To perform this analysis we have developed a new granular analysis method called IDF – Interfacial Differential Function. We will demonstrate the effectiveness of this statistical approach against the existing methods by analyzing different models and surfaces, by extracting the characteristic distances (grain size, inter-grain distance). The method has been successfully applied to the study by demonstrating changes in the morphology of thin films deposited on silicon versus the temperature of the substrate during deposition. We were able to show that, contrary to what previously described in the literature, the increased roughness observed when the deposition temperature increased, is not due to an increase in the width of the grains.In a second part, we will study the evolution of the internal structure of assemblies based on the deposition temperature. The strong influence of the thermal properties of the polymer structure on the gold/polymer nano-assembly has been shown by X-ray reflectivity and transmission electron microscopy. The combination of x-ray reflectivity associated with the atomic force microscopy has allowed us to reveal the evolution with the temperature of the structure changes from a layered structure at low temperature to a more complex structure of composite type with the presence of polystyrene on the surface for high temperatures.In the last part, the impact of temperature on optical electric properties, assemblies will be presented. The transition from a conductive surface at low temperature to a high temperature insulating surface will be highlighted via an original study based on a mapping of electrical resistance produced by AFM. Optical exaltation properties will be presented through a study by Raman spectroscopy.In conclusion, results of this work will be put in perspective with respect to potential applications such as flexible electronics and fabrication of sensors.

Selected methods of Raman spectroscopy, like surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and single molecule Raman spectroscopy, are described in this diploma work. The basis of two methods for numerical modelling of optical properties of micro- and nanoparticles are prefaced. The methods are Discrete Dipole Approximation and Finite Difference Time Domain. Micro- and nanoparticles are used in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and other nanospectroscopic methods. Further, the main instrumentation needed for Raman spectroscopy is described. The first part of experimental section of this work is numerical modelling of photonic nanojet that occures behind dielectric microparticles. This phenomenon leads to a new technique of confocal microscopy with Raman spectra measuring. The second experimental section contains results of Raman spectra measurement with beta-carotene and surface-enhanced Raman spectra of beta-carotene in silver-sol solution.

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit werden zwei Perylen-Derivate als Zwischenschichten in Ag/organischen Schichten/GaAs(100)-Heterostrukturen eingesetzt, um den Einfluss von unterschiedlichen chemischen Endgruppen auf die chemischen und strukturellen Eigenschaften beider Grenzflächen, sowie auf die Morphologie, Struktur und Kristallinität von organischen Schichten zu charakterisieren. Die molekularen Schichten von 3,4,9,10-Perylentetracarbonsäure Dianhydrid (PTCDA) und Dimethyl-3,4,9,10-Perylentetracarbonsäure Diimid (DiMe-PTCDI) werden durch organische Molekularstrahldeposition (OMBD) im Ultrahochvakuum auf S-passivierten GaAs(100):2x1-Substraten hergestellt. Weiterhin wird der Einfluss des Substrats untersucht, indem PTCDA-Wachstum auf H-passiviertem Si(100):1x1 durchgeführt wird. Als Hauptcharakterisierungsmethode wird die Ramanspektroskopie eingesetzt. Diese ist eine nicht-destruktive Methode, die auch in situ Untersuchungen des Wachstumsprozesses ermöglicht. Die komplementäre Infrarotspektroskopie sowie die Rasterkraftmikroskopie, Rasterelektronenmikroskopie und Röntgenbeugung (XRD) werden zur Ergänzung des Verständnisses der Heterostruktureigenschaften verwendet. Die Empfindlichkeit von Raman- und Infrarot-Spektroskopien auf die chemisch unterschiedlichen Endgruppen wird durch experimentelle Untersuchungen an PTCDA- und DiMe-PTCDI-Kristallen, beziehungsweise dicken Schichten und mit Hilfe theoretischer Berechnungen nachgewiesen. So wird zum ersten Mal eine vollständige Zuordnung der Schwingunsfrequenzen zu den internen Schwingungsmoden von DiMe-PTCDI vorgeschlagen. Im niedrigen Frequenzbereich der Ramanspektren werden die externen molekularen Schwingungsmoden, oder molekularen „Phononen“, die eine Signatur der Kristallinität darstellen, beobachtet. Die Phononen von DiMe-PTCDI werden in dieser Arbeit zum ersten Mal in einem Ramanexperiment beobachtet. Mittels resonanter Ramanspektroskopie wird die Detektion von C-H-Deformationsmoden und C-C-Streckmoden sogar im Sub-Monolagenbereich molekularer Bedeckung auf Halbleiteroberflächen möglich. Anhand dieser Ramanspektren konnte die Art der Wechselwirkung zwischen Molekülen und passivierten Oberflächen näher charakterisiert werden. Zusätzliche Information bringen die GaAs LO- und Plasmon-gekoppelten LO- Phononen, deren Intensitätsverhältnis im Ramanspektrum die Bandverbiegung im GaAs-Substrat widerspiegelt. Die Kristallinität der hergestellten organischen Schichten mit Dicken größer als 2 nm wird durch Beobachtung der molekularen „Phononen“ nachgewiesen. Als allgemeine Tendenz konnte bewiesen werden, dass mit steigender Substrattemperatur während des Wachstums größere Kristalldomänen entstehen. Weiterhin wird eine Methode vorgeschlagen, um den Anteil von zwei PTCDA- Kristallphasen mit ähnlichen Gitterparametern anhand der Raman- beziehungsweise XRD-Spektren zu bestimmen. Durch ihre sehr gute Ordnung können die DiMe-PTCDI- Schichten als Modellsystem dienen, um eine Methode zu entwickeln, die die Molekülorientierung im Bezug zum Substrat aus polarisationsabhängigen Raman- und Infrarotmessungen bestimmt. Bei der Metall-Bedampfung wird die Empfindlichkeit der Ramanstreuung an internen molekularen Schwingungsmoden von PTCDA und DiMe-PTCDI-Schichten durch oberflächenverstärkte Ramanstreuung (SERS) erhöht. Anhand der unterschiedlichen Signalverstärkungsmechanismen werden Informationen über die Ag/Molekül- Wechselwirkung und die Morphologie der Ag-Schichten abgeleitet.

Die Elektrochemie und die Spektroelektrochemie von Nitroanilinen (ortho-, meta- und para- Isomere) und deren entsprechenden Diaminoverbindungen (ortho-, meta- und para-Phenylendiamin) wurden an zwei verschiedenen Elektroden (Platin und Gold) und in zwei Elektrolytlösungen (saure und neutrale Perchloratlösung) untersucht. Die erhaltenen Messergebnisse wurden als Referenz für die spektroelektrochemische Untersuchung von Polyvinylaminen mit o- oder p- Nitroanilinsubstituenten verwendet. Es wurden außerdem spektroelektrochemische Untersuchungen mit anderen Polyvinylaminen, die das Wurster Kationradikal oder Stilbene als Substituenten enthalten, durchgeführt. Die oxidative und reduktive Elektrochemie von drei Nitroanilinisomeren wurde in neutraler (0.1 M KClO4) und saurer (0.1 M HClO4) wässriger Elektrolytlösung mit zyklischer Voltammetrie und oberflächenverstärkter Ramanspektroskopie (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy SERS) untersucht. Die zyklischen Voltammogramme, die mit einer Goldelektrode in saurer Elektrolytlösung für o- und p-Nitroanilin aufgezeichnet wurden, zeigten die Bildung von o- und p-Phenylendiamin beim Potenzialdurchlauf in kathodischer Richtung. In neutraler Elektrolytlösung ist die Situation anders und die Endprodukte der elektrochemischen Reduktion dieser Isomere sind o- und p- Amino-N-phenylhydroxylamin. Aus den zyklischen Voltammogrammen, die mit Gold- und Platinelektroden bei anodischem Potenzialdurchlauf für diese Isomere in saurer und neutraler Elektrolytlösung aufgezeichnet wurden, erhält man folgende Reihenfolge für die Lage der Oxidationspotentiale m-Nitroanilin > p-Nitroanilin > o-Nitroanilin. Eine Sauerstoff-Gold-Adsorbat- Streckschwingung wurde zwischen 400 und 430 cm-1 in den SER-Spektren der drei isomeren Nitroaniline in beiden Elektrolytlösungen bei positiven Elektrodenpotenzialen beobachtet. Das SERS-Experiment zeigte auch eine senkrechte Orientierung der adsorbierten Nitroaniline zur Oberfläche der Goldelektrode. Für die isomeren Phenylendiamine wurde in beiden Elektrolytlösungen und mit beiden Elektroden im anodischen Durchlauf das gleiche Verhalten beobachtet. Das beim Ein- Elektronenübergang erhaltene Oxidationsprodukt (Radikalkation) reagiert im Fall von o- und m- Phenylendiamin über eine C-N-Kopplung mit einem weiteren Radikal zum Dimer (1.Schritt der Elektropolymerisation). p-Phenylendiamin wird nach dem ECE-Mechanismus (E = Elektronentransfer, C = chemische Reaktion) oxidiert, wobei die Ladungsübertragung in zwei Schritten erfolgt, gekoppelt mit Säure-Base-Reaktionen, was zur Bildung des Diimin führt. Aus den SERS-Messungen kann man schlussfolgern, dass m- und p-Phenylendiamin waagerecht zur Metalloberfläche über den Benzenring und die Stickstoffatome adsorbiert sind. Die Adsorption von o-Phenylendiamin erfolgt über die Stickstoffatome und mit schräger Orientierung zur Metalloberfläche. Die zyklischen Voltammogramme, die mit einer Goldelektrode in saurer und neutraler Elektrolytlösung von den Polyvinylaminen mit Nitroanilinsubstituenten aufgenommen wurden, zeigen dasselbe Verhalten wie Nitroanilinmonomere beim Potenzialdurchlauf in kathodischer Richtung. Die für diese Polymere im anodischen Durchlauf erhaltenen Zyklovoltammogramme unterscheiden sich von denen für die Monomere. Die Zahl der Adsorptionsplätze und die Adsorptionsstärke der Polyvinylamine verändern sich in Abhängigkeit vom Elektrodenpotential, vom Prozentsatz und der Art des aromatischen Substituenten am Polymerrückgrat und vom pH-Wert der Lösung. / The electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry of nitroanilines (ortho, meta, and para isomers) and their respective amino compounds (ortho-, meta- and paraphenylenediamines) have been investigated at two different electrodes (platinum and gold) and in two different electrolyte solutions (acidic and neutral perchlorate). The results of these investigations were used as a reference for the spectroelectrochemistry of polyvinylamines containing o- or p-nitroaniline substituents. Spectroelectrochemical investigations of polyvinylamine containing Wurster radical cation or stilbene as a substituent were also carried out. The oxidative and reductive electrochemistry of the three isomeric nitroanilines has been studied in neutral (0.1 M KClO4) and acidic (0.1 M HClO4) aqueous electrolyte solutions with cyclic voltammetry and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The cyclic voltammograms recorded with a gold electrode in acidic electrolyte solution showed formation of o- and p-phenylenediamine in the negative going potential scan for o- and pnitroaniline respectively. In neutral electrolyte solution the situation is different and the final products of electrochemical reduction of these isomers are o- and p-amino-Nphenylhydroxylamine. The order of increasing electrochemical oxidation potential is mnitroaniline > p-nitroaniline > o-nitroaniline as observed from cyclic voltammograms recorded with a gold and platinum electrodes and in the positive going potentials scan for these isomers in acidic and neutral electrolyte solutions. An oxygen-gold adsorbate stretching mode was detected between 400 to 430 cm-1 in SER-spectra of the three isomeric nitroanilines in both electrolyte solutions at positive electrode potentials. The SERS experiments showed also a perpendicular orientation of adsorbed nitroanilines on a gold electrode with respect to the metal surface. General trends are observed in the anodic scans of isomeric phenylenediamines at both electrodes and in both electrolyte solutions. The one-electron electrochemical oxidation product (radical cation) in case of o- and m-phenylenediamine go into fast C-N coupling between radicals to form dimers (the first step of electropolymerization). The pphenylenediamine is oxidized according to an ECE mechanism (E = electron transfer reaction, C = chemical reaction), which involved two charge transfer steps coupled with acidbase reactions to form diimine. As we deduced from SERS measurements, m- and p-phenylenediamine adsorbed in flat orientation with respect to the metal surface via benzene ring and nitrogen atoms, respectively. o-Phenylenediamine adsorption is taking place via nitrogen atoms and with tilted orientation with respect to the metal surface. The cyclic voltammograms recorded with a gold electrode in acidic and neutral electrolyte solutions of polyvinylamines containing o- or p-nitroaniline substituents exhibit the same features like nitroaniline monomers in the negative going potentials scan. The result observed in the anodic scan for these polymers are different from those observed for monomers. Adsorption site and strength of the polyvinylamine polymer varies according to the applied electrode potential, percentage and type of the aromatic substituent at the polymer backbone, and the pH of the medium.

This work is aimed at the preparation and morphological and spectroscopic characterization of the interphase nanocomposite (NC) two-dimensional (2D) self-assembled systems of Ag and Au nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs were functionalized with the following ligands with terpyridine end-groups: 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (tpy), 4'-(2-thienyl)-2,2':6',2''- terpyridine (T-tpy), α,ω-bis(terpyridyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (tpy-2T-tpy) and α,ω-bis(terpyridyl)- 2,2':5',2''-terthiophene (tpy-3T-tpy). The morphological analysis of transmission electron micrographs proves the preservation of the average interparticle distance in closely spaced NP pairs, independent of the ligand. The value of the total average interparticle distance increases in the order: tpy < T-tpy < tpy- 2T-tpy < tpy-3T-tpy, while the average occupied area fraction in the same order decreases. The morphological descriptors (i.e. interparticle distance and occupied area fraction) were found to correlate with the shift of the SPE (surface plasmon extinction) maxima of NCs (tpy > T-tpy > tpy-2T-tpy > tpy-3T-tpy). The results show that the shift of SPE band maximum depends on the degree of surface plasmon delocalisation rather than on the value of the average interparticle distance in closely spaced NP pairs. The smaller are the islands formed by closely...

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Noble metal nanostructures display collective oscillation of the surface conduction electrons upon light irradiation as a form of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties. Size, shape, and refractive index of the surrounding environment are the key features that control the LSPR properties. Surface passivating ligands on to the nanostructure can modify the charge density of nanostructures. Further, allow resonant wavelengths to match that of the incident light. This unique phenomenon called the “plasmoelectric effect.” According to the Drude model, red and blue shifts of LSPR peak of nanostructures are observed in the event of reducing and increasing charge density, respectively. However, herein, we report unusual LSPR properties of gold triangular nanoprisms (Au TNPs) upon functionalization with para-substituted thiophenols (X-Ph-SH, X = -NH2, -OCH3, -CH3, -H, -Cl, -CF3, and -NO2). Accordingly, we hypothesized that an appropriate energy level alignment between the Au Fermi energy and the HOMO or LUMO of ligands allows the delocalization of surface plasmon excitation at the hybrid inorganic-organic interface. Thus, provides a thermodynamically driven plasmoelectric effect. We further validated our hypothesis by calculating the HOMO and LUMO levels and work function changes of Au TNPs upon functionalization with para-substituted thiol. This reported unique finding then utilized to design ultrasensitive plasmonic substrate for biosensing of cancer microRNA in bladder cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In the discovery of early bladder cancer diagnosis platform, for the first time, we have been utilized to analyze the tumor suppressor microRNA for a more accurate diagnosis of BC. Additionally, we have been advancing our sensing platform to mitigate the false positive and negative responses of the sensing platform using surface-enhanced fluorescence technique. This noninvasive, highly sensitive, highly specific, also does not have false positives techniques that provide the strong key to detect cancer at a very early stage, hence increase the cancer survival rate. Moreover, the electromagnetic field enhancement of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) and other related surface-enhanced spectroscopic processes resulted from the LSPR property. This dissertation describes the design and development of entirely new SERS nanosensors using a flexible SERS substrate based on the unique LSPR property of Au TNPs. The developed sensor shows an excellent SERS activity (enhancement factor = ~6.0 x 106) and limit of detection (as low as 56 parts-per-quadrillions) with high selectivity by chemometric analyses among three commonly used explosives (TNT, RDX, and PETN). Further, we achieved the programmable self-assembly of Au TNPs using molecular tailoring to form a 3D supper lattice array based on the substrate effect. Here we achieved the highest reported sensitivity for potent drug analysis, including opioids and synthetic cannabinoids from human plasma obtained from the emergency room. This exquisite sensitivity is mainly due to the two reasons, including molecular resonance of the adsorbate molecules and the plasmonic coupling among the nanoparticles. Altogether we are highly optimistic that our research will not only increase the patient survival rate through early detection of cancer but also help to battle the “war against drugs” that together are expected to enhance the quality of human life.

The accurate and rapid detection of clinically relevant analytes at the point-of-care (POC) is a crucial element for the increase in our quality of life. There are multiple detection techniques for sensing a target analyte in biological samples. However, electrochemical sensors excel because of their versatility, accuracy and sensitivity. Among the many challenges in the fabrication of electrochemistry-based POC sensors, the miniaturization of the working electrodes is one of the most difficult to overcome. Decreasing the size of the sensors will result in less electroactive surface area (ESA) and, therefore, lower sensitivity. Thus, the design of miniaturized electrodes with high ESA is desired in this research field. The methodology developed in our laboratory to accomplish this goal is based on the fabrication of microstructured gold electrodes (MSEs) by depositing, via sputtering, a gold thin-film onto a pre-stressed polystyrene substrate masked with adhesive vinyl stencils and thermally shrinking the substrate at high temperatures (135-160 °C). In my thesis work, I developed cost-effective sensitive electrochemical platforms using only bench-top approaches. First, the ESA and, thus, the sensitivity of the MSEs were enhanced by using a simple and rapid nano-roughening approach. The ESA of MSEs was increased 4x by applying high voltage pulsing in sulfuric acid. The resulting electrodes possessed high anti-fouling capabilities and excellent response toward the enzyme-free detection of glucose with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.62 mM in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and ascorbic acid. Furthermore, the fabrication cost of the MSEs electrodes was decreased by 5x by replacing the sputtering deposition step with a cost-effective solution-based electroless deposition technique. In this case, the PS substrates were coated with a polydopamine adhesion layer and noble metal films (copper, silver and gold) were subsequently plated. Not only the cost of the gold electrode was substantially reduced but, due to the intrinsic roughness of the surface, the MSEs electrodes obtained via electroless deposition showed a higher ESA than those made via sputtering. Furthermore, the developed electroless method was extended for the fabrication of paper-based sensing devices. The sensing versatility of these surfaces was demonstrated by electrochemically detecting mercury with a 0.27 ppb LOD and by sensing thiophenol via surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The MSEs electrodes fabricated via electroless deposition were subjected to the nano-roughening technique to generate affordable and high ESA electrodes. These platforms were used to design enzyme-based biosensors to accurately detect glucose and urea in complex samples. Glucose was detected in four different types of wine, with matrix interference measured below 10%, and in human serum, with a measured concentration that was not statistically different from that obtained from commercially available biosensors. Urea was detected in human urine and plasma with matrix interferences measured to be below 8% in both cases. We envision that the fabrication techniques developed in this thesis will rapidly grow in the scientific community for the prompt and accurate design of POC electrochemical devices. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

No description available.