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COMMON PART

Project Number19-79-00214

Project titleHybrid metal-dielectric nanomaterials produced via laser ablation in liquids for next-generation biosensors and optoelectronic devices.

Project LeadGurbatov Stanislav

AffiliationFar Eastern Federal University,

Research area 09 - ENGINEERING SCIENCES, 09-710 - New materials for nano-electronic devices

Keywordspulsed laser ablation in liquids, short and ultrashort laser pulses, nanoparticles and nanomaterials, dielectric and hybrid metal-dielectric nanoparticles, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

PROJECT CONTENT

Annotation
During the last three decades, studying the optical properties of metallic nanoparticles that support optically-induced resonance oscillations of their electron density (so-called ‘localized plasmon resonance’), as well as highly-refractive submicron structures based on dielectrics and semiconductors, has been the mainstream of both fundamental and applied research in the fields of nanophotonics, plasmonics, and optoelectronics. The continuous popularity of such nanomaterials is associated with their unique optical properties. In particular, plasmonic nanoparticles are known to generate multiply-enhanced electromagnetic fields (so-called ‘hot spots’) localized at subwavelength scale at their surface, while dielectric nanoparticles support optically-induced electrical and magnetic response (the Mie resonances), the latter providing both a significant field enhancement and the possibility to tune the directivity of radiation pattern, etc. It is therefore expected that combining both dielectric and plasmonic materials into a single resonant nanostructure will make it possible to produce a system with both controlled and tunable magnetic optical response, as well as with a high localization degree and enhancement of the electromagnetic field. Hence, this will permit to fabricate nanomaterials with unique optical properties, optimized ratio of radiation and non-radiation losses, and with an extended working wavelength range. At the same time, the difference in sizes required of the semiconductor/dielectric nanoparticles and plasmonic nanoparticles (200- 500 nm and < 50 nm, respectively) to realize their simultaneous resonant response in the visible spectral range makes the production of such hybrid metal-dielectric nanostructures rather difficult and time-consuming, even if advanced and expensive lithography techniques are involved. The present project will use environmentally friendly and easy-to-use approaches based on pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) phase aiming at developing an economically justified technology of preparing diverse hybrid metal-dielectric nanomaterials with controlled optical response. The project involves comprehensive fundamental studies of complex physical and chemical processes taking place during the excitation of laser-induced plasma at the ‘liquid-solid’ interface, cavitation bubble propagation, and the interaction of formed particles with liquid after the bubble collapses in order to attain the capability of controlling the main parameters of generated nanomaterials, such as size, shape, chemical composition and doping degree. The possibility to control the main structural parameters of the obtained nanomaterials will permit to optimize their optical response. This will be studied both theoretically and experimentally for the first time and will be one of the key stages of the project’s realization. Finally, the synthesized metal-dielectric nanoparticles will be employed in high-performance optical nanosensors that utilize surface-enhanced photoluminescence (SEPL) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) principles for the rapid detection of ultralow concentrations of organic and inorganic molecules. In addition, they will also be introduced into various functional layers of perovskite solar cells in an attempt to increase the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of such cells. Thus, within the frameworks of the present multidisciplinary project, a new environment-friendly, simple and cost-efficient technology will be developed and optimized which provides inexpensive hybrid metal-dielectric nanomaterials with attractive and unique properties highly-anticipated for the use in biosensing and in new-generation optoelectronic devices.

Expected results
The present proposal intends the development of environment-friendly, cost-efficient and easy-to-use approaches based on pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) phase to fabricate hybrid metal-dielectric nanomaterials for next-generation biosensors and optoelectronic devices. The main fundamental results expected as outcome of this project include studies and better understanding of PLAL-associated physical and chemical processes occurring during the initiation (at the ‘liquid-solid’ interface) of a laser-induced plasma, cavitation bubble propagation, and the interaction of formed nanoparticles with liquid medium after the bubble’s collapse. All this will help attain the capability of controlling the main parameters of synthesized nanomaterials, such as their size, shape, chemical composition and doping degree. At the same time, the main results of practical character will be: (i) an environment-friendly and cost-efficient laser technology for the preparation of diverse hybrid metal-dielectric nanomaterials; (ii) prototypes of next-generation biosensors for rapid and highly-selective detection of organic and inorganic molecules at ultra-low concentrations; (iii) test results of perovskite solar cells with hybrid nanomaterials embedded as components into their different functional layers. To date, taking into consideration the high output power and pulse repetition rates of modern commercial laser systems and the relatively low cost of ultrafast systems for scanning the beam over the target (which serves as the source of generated nanoparticles), the PLAL techniques are able to provide competitive production rates of nanomaterials when compared with those of chemical-synthesis based approaches. Therefore, developing of laser-based techniques for the production of hybrid metal-dielectric nanoparticles with unique optical properties and high performance in next-generation biosensors and optoelectronic devices is both very timely and of great practical significance. Realization of new multifunctional biosensors based on hybrid nanomaterials will be of great practical importance for a wide range of industrial and scientific applications: from optical detection of explosives and analysis of drinking water quality to routine ultra-fast biodiagnostics of different medical diseases. Among potential customers benefitting from the obtained results, the following can be listed: medical facilities and other public establishments, manufacturers of biochemical sensors and complex bio-monitoring systems, and public transport security. The high importance and timeliness of the proposed research are also evident from the fact that studies in relevant fields are nowadays conducted not only in academic institutions, but they also involve international companies, such as Biotest, Biosensor and others. The produced hybrid nanomaterials will also be utilized to optimize various functional layers of thin-film solar cells based on lead-halide perovskites. Incorporation of different nanomaterials into functional layers of thin-film solar cells was reported often to to increase their efficiency via boosting the charge carrier mobility and/or more efficient absorption of solar energy. In this context, the attractiveness of PLAL-produced nanomaterials is seen not only in their unique properties but also in the ease and convenience of their incorporation into various functional layers of solar cells (as the such novel hybrid materials are prepared as colloids in liquid phase). The expected results of the present multidisciplinary project will be of both academic and technological importance and will correspond to the latest state-of-art research in relevant fields. Considering the high research activities in the field and timeliness of the project, at least 3 research articles are planned to be published in highly-ranked journals included in the first quartile (Q1) of the Web of Science database. Since the principal investigator of the project is an employee of the Far Eastern Federal University and the Institute of Automation and Control Processes of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, students and postgraduate students of the two institutions will be actively involved into its realization, which will certainly increase the quality of their graduation theses and contribute positively to their scientific education and growth. The partial fulfilment of the project in educational institutions will permit to integrate its scientific infrastructure and results into educational processes run at these organizations, for example, in the form of a new educational program that involves specialists and researchers of both national and international caliber.

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