Structure, function, and dynamics of many soft-matter systems, including polymer heterostructures, organic photovoltaics, or biomembranes are typically defined on the mesoscopic few nm to sub-micron scale. Tip-enhanced and scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM) has already demonstrated its ability to spectroscopically access that relevant spatial regime. In combination with IR-vibrational spectroscopy s-SNOM provides molecular structural information. We demonstrated how furthermore, the combination with plasmonic and optical antenna concepts with ultrafast and shaped laser pulses allows for the precise control of an optical excitation on femtosecond time and nanometer length scales. In addition through the multi-spectral combination of different coherent and incoherent IR sources we gain insight into the microscopic intra- and intermolecular interaction. I will discuss several specific implementations from our recent work on block-copolymers, organic photovoltaics, proteins, and self-assembled monolayers.

Nanofocused multimodal imaging, control, and interaction dynamics: Ultrafast spectroscopy reaching the single molecule limit

246th National Meeting (2013)

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