Nanoprobe (device)
Encyclopedia
A nanoprobe as existing in the real world is an optical device. It was developed by tapering an optical fiber
to a tip measuring 100 nm = 1000 angstrom
s wide. Also, a very thin coating of silver nanoparticle
s helps to enhance the Raman scattering
effect of the light. (The phenomenon of light reflection from an object when illuminated by a laser light is referred to as Raman scattering
.) The reflected light demonstrates vibration energies unique to each object (samples in this case), which can be characterised and identified. The silver
nanoparticles in this technique provides for the rapid oscillations of electrons, adding to vibration energies, and thus enhancing Raman Scattering -- commonly known as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS
). These SERS nanoprobes produce higher electromagnetic fields enabling higher signal output--eventually resulting in accurate detection and analysis of samples.
Optical fiber
An optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of a pure glass not much wider than a human hair. It functions as a waveguide, or "light pipe", to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. The field of applied science and engineering concerned with the design and application of...
to a tip measuring 100 nm = 1000 angstrom
Ångström
The angstrom or ångström, is a unit of length equal to 1/10,000,000,000 of a meter . Its symbol is the Swedish letter Å....
s wide. Also, a very thin coating of silver nanoparticle
Nanoparticle
In nanotechnology, a particle is defined as a small object that behaves as a whole unit in terms of its transport and properties. Particles are further classified according to size : in terms of diameter, coarse particles cover a range between 10,000 and 2,500 nanometers. Fine particles are sized...
s helps to enhance the Raman scattering
Raman scattering
Raman scattering or the Raman effect is the inelastic scattering of a photon. It was discovered by Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman and Kariamanickam Srinivasa Krishnan in liquids, and by Grigory Landsberg and Leonid Mandelstam in crystals....
effect of the light. (The phenomenon of light reflection from an object when illuminated by a laser light is referred to as Raman scattering
Raman scattering
Raman scattering or the Raman effect is the inelastic scattering of a photon. It was discovered by Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman and Kariamanickam Srinivasa Krishnan in liquids, and by Grigory Landsberg and Leonid Mandelstam in crystals....
.) The reflected light demonstrates vibration energies unique to each object (samples in this case), which can be characterised and identified. The silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
nanoparticles in this technique provides for the rapid oscillations of electrons, adding to vibration energies, and thus enhancing Raman Scattering -- commonly known as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS
Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy or surface enhanced Raman scattering is a surface-sensitive technique that enhances Raman scattering by molecules adsorbed on rough metal surfaces...
). These SERS nanoprobes produce higher electromagnetic fields enabling higher signal output--eventually resulting in accurate detection and analysis of samples.