New optical device for using the synergistic effect of photonic nanojet and plasmons for signal and resolution enhancement in spectroscopy
EP4751111A1Pending Publication Date: 2026-06-03RUDJER BOSKOVIC INST
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- RUDJER BOSKOVIC INST
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-18
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-03
AI Technical Summary
Technical Problem
Existing Raman spectroscopy methods, such as SERS and TERS, face challenges with reproducibility, cost, and complexity, while photonic nanojet methods offer lower enhancement levels but are simpler and more reproducible.
Method used
The development of a nano-engineered microsphere (NMS) that combines the synergistic effects of photonic nanojets and plasmons, enhancing Raman spectroscopy signals through a mechanically fixed and controlled dielectric microsphere with incorporated nanoelements.
Benefits of technology
NMERS achieves extremely high signal enhancement, up to three orders of magnitude higher than SERS or TERS, with improved reproducibility and reduced costs, while maintaining high resolution and simplicity of use.
✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.
Smart Images
Figure HR2024000007_30012025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
An optical device called NMS (nano-engineered microsphere) is developed, which consists of an optical microsphere with a built in nanoelement. By illuminating the microsphere, a photonic nanojet is created that illuminates the nanoelement at the tip of which plasmons are excited. The nanoelement can be, for example, a metal nanocone whose base is built in a microsphere, and plasmons are excited at the tip, or a nanowire with a metal tip. The microsphere can contain a cavity that offers additional protection for the nanoelement and can cause higher enhancement. When used, for example, in Raman spectroscopy, which we call NMERS (nano-engineered microsphere enhanced Raman spectroscopy), the joint action of the photonic nanojet and plasmon leads to a combined enhancement of Raman scattering, and if the sample is mapped, the resolution of the mapping is also improved. NMERS offers some improvements over the best enhancement methods so far such as SERS and TERS, and NMS can be used in a variety of other microscopic and spectroscopic applications.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art