Pacific Northwest National Laboratory - PNNL
Tiny Antennas Amplify Molecular Research
These silver nanospheres can be used as an antenna to enhance the optical properties of single molecules, creating a research platform that allows scientists to fingerprint a molecule’s chemical identity. PNNL researchers study the properties of the nanospheres, including how they self-assemble with a uniform structure and how the resulting antenna effect provides a uniform signal. This level of nanometric uniformity is very difficult to achieve, but offers a new platform for researchers to take a closer look at the fundamental physical chemistry and physics of various molecules. This work was initiated with Laboratory Directed Research and Development funding and is now supported by the Condensed Phase and Interfacial Molecular Sciences Program within DOE’s Basic Energy Sciences program.
Research Team: Patrick El-Khoury and Wayne Hess (PNNL); Patricia Abellan (former post-doc research associate at PNNL) and Mikhall Zamkov (Bowling Green State University).
The image was captured with a transmission electron microscope.
A free PDF calendar with this image is available for download on PNNL.gov: www.pnnl.gov/publications/calendars/
Terms of Use: Our images are freely and publicly available for use with the credit line, "Courtesy of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory." Please use provided caption information for use in appropriate context.
Tiny Antennas Amplify Molecular Research
These silver nanospheres can be used as an antenna to enhance the optical properties of single molecules, creating a research platform that allows scientists to fingerprint a molecule’s chemical identity. PNNL researchers study the properties of the nanospheres, including how they self-assemble with a uniform structure and how the resulting antenna effect provides a uniform signal. This level of nanometric uniformity is very difficult to achieve, but offers a new platform for researchers to take a closer look at the fundamental physical chemistry and physics of various molecules. This work was initiated with Laboratory Directed Research and Development funding and is now supported by the Condensed Phase and Interfacial Molecular Sciences Program within DOE’s Basic Energy Sciences program.
Research Team: Patrick El-Khoury and Wayne Hess (PNNL); Patricia Abellan (former post-doc research associate at PNNL) and Mikhall Zamkov (Bowling Green State University).
The image was captured with a transmission electron microscope.
A free PDF calendar with this image is available for download on PNNL.gov: www.pnnl.gov/publications/calendars/
Terms of Use: Our images are freely and publicly available for use with the credit line, "Courtesy of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory." Please use provided caption information for use in appropriate context.