Real-time detection of single-molecule reaction by plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba6012
• Publication Date: 2020-06-10T23:18:02Z
• Authors: Chao-Yu Li; Sai Duan; Jun Yi; Chen Wang; Petar M. Radjenovic; Zhong-Qun Tian; Jian-Feng Li
• Keywords: Millisecond; Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Determining structural transformations of single molecules (SMs) is an important fundamental scientific endeavor. Optical spectroscopies are the dominant tools used to unravel physical and chemical features individual have substantially contributed surface science biotechnology. In particular, Raman spectroscopy can identify reaction intermediates reveal underlying mechanisms; however, SM experiments subject intrinsically weak signal intensities considerable attenuation within spectral dispersion systems spectrometer. Here, monitor transformation on millisecond time scale, a plasmonic nanocavity substrate has been enable vibrational fluorescence signals be simultaneously collected correlated, which thus allows detection photo-induced bond cleavage between xanthene phenyl group rhodamine B isothiocyanate molecule in real time. This technique provides novel method for investigating light-matter interactions reactions at level.