New Fluorescence Tech
A research team led by Kim Dong-ha, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Nano Science at Ewha Womans University and Dr. Saji Thomas Kochuveedu announced on May 6 that they successfully developed a method to create a nanostructure that greatly enhances the light emission efficiency of fluorescent substances using the phenomenon of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) that is shown when light interacts with gold nanoparticles.
SPR is the collective oscillation of electrons in a metal surface. The team created a core-shell nanostructure composed of gold nanoparticles, surrounding CdSe quantum dot donors, and S101 dye acceptors. After making two layers of silica between the core and shell, they were successful in controlling the space among gold nanoparticles and the distance between donors and acceptors with great precision by adjusting the thickness of these layers.
The team was able to improve the light emission efficiency of fluorescent substances as much as four times by increasing the efficiency of Förster Resonance Energy Transfer.
Professor Kim noted, “I think that this technology could be widely used in displays, biochemical sensors, and solar cells where fluorescent substances are utilized.”
The research findings were first published online on April 22 by Scientific Reports, an online open access scientific journal published by the Nature Publishing Group.