Giant Purcell Broadening and Lamb Shift for DNA-Assembled Near-Infrared Quantum Emitters.

Controlling the light emitted by individual molecules is instrumental to a number of advanced nanotechnologies ranging from super-resolution bioimaging and molecular sensing to quantum nanophotonics. Molecular emission can be tailored by modifying the local photonic environment, for example, by precisely placing a single molecule inside a plasmonic nanocavity with the help of DNA origami. Here, using this scalable approach, we show that commercial fluorophores may experience giant Purcell factors and Lamb shifts, reaching values on par with those recently reported in scanning tip experiments.

Advances and applications of dynamic surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for single molecule studies.

Dynamic surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is nowadays one of the most interesting applications of SERS, in particular for single molecule studies. In fact, it enables the study of real-time processes at the molecular level. This review summarizes the latest developments in dynamic SERS techniques and their applications, focusing on new instrumentation, data analysis methods, temporal resolution and sensitivity improvements, and novel substrates.

Ordered Transfer from 3D-Oriented MOF Superstructures to Polymeric Films: Microfabrication, Enhanced Chemical Stability, and Anisotropic Fluorescent Patterns.

Films and patterns of 3D-oriented metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) afford well-ordered pore structures extending across centimeter-scale areas. These macroscopic domains of aligned pores are pivotal to enhance diffusion along specific pathways and orient functional guests. The anisotropic properties emerging from this alignment are beneficial for applications in ion conductivity and photonics.

Universal Click-Chemistry Approach for the DNA Functionalization of Nanoparticles.

Nanotechnology has revolutionized the fabrication of hybrid species with tailored functionalities. A milestone in this field is the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) conjugation of nanoparticles, introduced almost 30 years ago, which typically exploits the affinity between thiol groups and metallic surfaces. Over the last decades, developments in colloidal research have enabled the synthesis of an assortment of nonmetallic structures, such as high-index dielectric nanoparticles, with unique properties not previously accessible with traditional metallic nanoparticles.

Thermometries for Single Nanoparticles Heated with Light.

The development of efficient nanoscale photon absorbers, such as plasmonic or high-index dielectric nanostructures, allows the remotely controlled release of heat on the nanoscale using light. These photothermal nanomaterials have found applications in various research and technological fields, ranging from materials science to biology. However, measuring the nanoscale thermal fields remains an open challenge, hindering full comprehension and control of nanoscale photothermal phenomena.