Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), a property exhibited by noble metal nanoparticles, has proven very useful in label-free biosensing. When a protein of interest binds to the surface of a gold nanoparticle the index of refraction around the nanoparticle changes and produces a shift in the plasmon resonance frequency. Noble metal nanoparticles have their LSPR in the visible region making them amenable for use with UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy or even detection by eye. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been shown to yield exquisite sensitivity for biosensing as well. Herein, we have fabricated gold nanorod arrays for both LSPR and SERS biosensing. Gold nanorod arrays are fabricated using electrochemical deposition through a polymer mask. Indium-tin-oxide (ITO) or thin film gold coated glass, which has undergone hole-mask colloidal lithography (HCL) to create 15 and 24 nm in diameter wells down to the ITO or gold surface, is used as the working electrode and is the base for the array. Continuous application of voltage in a range near the redox potential of gold reduces aqueous chloroauric acid into the wells to create nanorods. Nanoparticle arrays are characterized with atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and SERS.

Templated gold nanorod arrays for improved plasmonic biosensing

249th National Meeting (2015)

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