Discrete plasmons in Au nano-assemblies for SERS: Fabricating rigid sub-nm junctions with molecular cucurbituril glue

Abstract

Summary form only given. Using sticky ‘barrel-like’ cucurbituril molecules, allows fixed and rigid gaps between Au nanoparticles in solution-based nanoassemblies to be robustly fabricated. The induced discrete plasmon resonances observed can be harnessed, along with the cucurbituril host-guest properties, for a powerful molecular-recognition based SERS sensor.