Adopting a novel approach, this book provides a unique "molecular perspective" on plasmonics, concisely presenting the fundamentals and applications in a way suitable for beginners entering this hot field as well as for experienced researchers and practitioners.
It begins by introducing readers to the optical effects that occur at the nanoscale and particularly their modification in the presence of biomolecules, followed by a concise yet thorough overview of the different methods for the actual fabrication of nano-optical materials. Further chapters address the relevant nano-optics, as well as the various approaches to combining nanostructures and biomolecules to achieve certain desired functionalities for applications in the fields of probing, sensing and particle manipulation.
For analytical biologists, physical chemists, materials scientists and medicinal chemists.

This book concentrates on the various fields related to the development of a nanobiosensor and presents the latest information from renowned experts. It focuses on the enhanced spectroscopy, including SERS, SEIRA/SEIRS, and near-field optics, and the related physical processes (optical properties of metallic nanoparticles, plasmon resonance, field enhancement, etc.). Some applications in the biological and medical field are presented to show the potential of such techniques as sensors if combined with functionalization.

Techniques such as Raman, infrared, fluorescence, and even nonlinear spectroscopies have recently grown in resolution and possibilities thanks to the use of nanostructured surfaces. Excitation of localized surface plasmon (LSP) and/or the use of specific shapes of nanostructures have made it possible to gain an incredible sensitivity in these spectroscopies. Unlike other books in the market, which mainly focus on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and plasmonics, the aim of this book is to provide the reader with a detailed overview of enhanced spectroscopies. It introduces plasmon and electromagnetic effects arising in metallic nanostructures, and reviews the above spectroscopies, enhanced by the presence of either a nanostructure or a tip. It reviews the theoretical basis of each technique, describes experimental procedures, and suggests some applications.

Over the past decade, plasmonic nanoparticles have been the subject of extensive research, owing to their remarkable optical properties. These properties arise from a collective oscillation of the conductive electrons at the nanoparticle surface under light irradiation, known as localized surface plasmon (LSP). LSP is characterized by (i) a strong absorption and scattering of the light depending on the geometrical parameters of the nanoparticles and (ii) a strong amplification of the local field in the vicinity of the nanoparticles. Quite recently, it was shown that the activation and the initiation of chemical reactions or physical processes can be facilitated using LSP excitation. Such exploitation presents two main advantages: an enhanced yield and a fine control of chemical reactions at the nanoscale. These topics have become very active and are in line with molecular plasmonics. This book explores this new field and provides a broad view on the exploitation of plasmonics in chemical and biological fields.