[en] We report on the study of surface enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) by steroid hormone cortisol molecules with different concentrations deposited on linear Au nanoantenna arrays. Localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) arise in the nanoantennas under the influence of external electromagnetic radiation. LSPR frequency depends mainly on the nanoantenna length and can vary from the visible to the terahertz range. We establish the ratio between the structural parameters of nanoantenna arrays and LSPR frequencies based on the results of 3D electrodynamic simulations. Using nanolithography we fabricate nanoantenna arrays having LSPR frequencies close to the frequencies of the most intense absorption modes of steroid hormone cortisol. We deposit cortisol molecules onto the surface of nanoantenna arrays by drop– coating. SEIRA spectra of the nanoantenna arrays make it possible the determination of the presence of cortisol and establishing the sensitivity limit of this method. Thus, we show possibility of SEIRA application for cortisol concentration analysis. (paper)

[en] The enhancement of Raman scattering by optical phonon modes in quantum dots was achieved in resonant and surface-enhanced Raman scattering experiments by approaching the laser energy to the energy of either the interband transitions or the localized surface plasmons in silver nanoclusters deposited onto the nanostructures. Resonant Raman scattering by TO, LO, and SO phonons as well as their overtones was observed for PbS, ZnS, and ZnO quantum dots while enhancement for LO and SO modes in CdS quantum dots with a factor of about 700 was measured in surface enhanced Raman scattering experiments. Multiple phonon Raman scattering observed up to 5th and 7th order for CdS and ZnO, respectively, confirms the high crystalline quality of the grown QDs.

[en] Raman scattering (including nonresonant, resonant, and surface enhanced scattering) of light by optical and surface phonons of ZnO nanocrystals and nanorods has been investigated. It has been found that the nonresonant and resonant Raman scattering spectra of the nanostructures exhibit typical vibrational modes, E₂(high) and A₁(LO), respectively, which are allowed by the selection rules. The deposition of silver nanoclusters on the surface of nanostructures leads either to an abrupt increase in the intensity (by a factor of 10³) of Raman scattering of light by surface optical phonons or to the appearance of new surface modes, which indicates the observation of the phenomenon of surface enhanced Raman light scattering. It has been demonstrated that the frequencies of surface optical phonon modes of the studied nanostructures are in good agreement with the theoretical values obtained from calculations performed within the effective dielectric function model.

No abstract available