We know that for studying surface plasmon resonance (SPR), commercial SPR biosensor instruments are available. But for studying LSPR phenomena of metal NPs what are the other tools available apart from standard UV-VIS spectrophotometer?
Standard UV-VIS spectrometer are the most convenient devices to study LSPR phenomena of colloidal solutions of metal nanoparticles. Another method used is single particle scattering spectroscopy in a dark field microscope. This works for immobilised nanoparticles and gives the scattering part of the total absorbance. For some examples see publications by Paul Mulvaney. A more sophisticated method to study LSPR in metal nanoparticles is cathodoluminescence usually done in TEM. For some details see publications by Jennifer Dionne.
You could also put them on a glass plate and use snom. It can also be interesting to measure also in the infra-red so you can see all the modes (depends on the size of your NP) of your LSPR.
You can consider the LSPR spectrometer specialized for extended range of applications. As example, NanoPLASMON (http://nanoplasmon.com) is a computer-controlled compact LSPR spectrometer that implements the light extinction spectra measurement of noble metal nanoparticles as well as any additional layers (not only biomolecules), placed onto their surface. LSPR spectrometer supports measurements in usual spectrophotometric cuvettes (e.g. for any colloidal nanoparticles or solutions) and using plasmonic nanochips (high-conductive metal nanoparticle arrays on transparent substrates with size up to microscopic slide or with other geometry). In addition to studying the LSPR spectra of metal nanoparticles and nanoparticle-containing thin films, LSPR spectrometer can operate as a bio- or chemosensor in gas or liquid environment. For this purpose, it provides the real-time mode of operation in a flow cell using plasmonic nanochips with registration of molecular adsorption and/or biospecific reaction kinetics and with a possibility to estimate the kinetic rate constants. Depending on the modification, this device has built-in compact spectrometer or it can work with any external spectrometers using an optical fiber. Modification of the instrument makes possible its electrochemical applications. As an option the device is designed with one or two optical channels and completed by peristaltic or syringe pumps. The design of device is universal and it was developed especially for University Laboratories specializing in nanoscience, where often the object of study is not defined beforehand and can be changed.
http://nanoplasmon.com
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