Plasmonic Nanomaterials for Colorimetric Sensing Applications
Summary
Plasmonic nanomaterials harness light‐induced collective oscillations of conduction electrons at the surfaces of noble metal nanoparticles to produce intense, size‐ and shape‐dependent colour effects. Such localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) can be finely tuned by altering nanoparticle morphology, composition or interparticle spacing. When target analytes induce nanoparticle aggregation, growth or etching, the resulting change in LSPR gives rise to a visible colour shift, enabling straightforward, instrument‐free detection. Versatile strategies include molecule‐mediated crosslinking, metal‐ion‐driven shell formation or selective surface etching, each converting a chemical or biological recognition event into a vivid optical signal. These systems offer low cost, rapid response and naked‐eye readout, with applications spanning point‐of‐care diagnostics, environmental monitoring, food safety and security screening. Ongoing innovations in nanoparticle design, surface functionalisation and signal-amplification methodologies are extending sensitivity, selectivity and dynamic range, fostering real-world deployment of plasmonic colourimetric sensors.
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Plasmonic Nanomaterials for Colorimetric Sensing Applications publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in plasmonic nanomaterials for colorimetric sensing applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR): Collective oscillation of conduction electrons in metal nanoparticles induced by light, resulting in strong optical absorption and scattering at characteristic wavelengths.
Colourimetric sensing: Analytical method in which the presence or concentration of an analyte is determined by a visible colour change of the sensing medium.
Nanostar: Star-shaped plasmonic nanoparticle with sharp protrusions that concentrate electric fields and enhance optical sensitivity to environmental changes.
Surface etching: Controlled removal of material from nanoparticle surfaces to modify morphology and tune optical properties, often mediated by chemical or enzymatic reactions.
References
- Gold Nanoparticle-Based Colorimetric Strategies for Chemical and Biological Sensing Applications. Nanomaterials (2019).
- Gold and Silver Nanoparticle-Based Colorimetric Sensors: New Trends and Applications. Chemosensors (2021).
- Iodide‐Mediated Rapid and Sensitive Surface Etching of Gold Nanostars for Biosensing. Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2021).
- Gold Nanostar-Based Sensitive Catechol Plasmonic Colorimetric Sensing Platform with Ultra-Wide Detection Range. Chemosensors (2022).
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