Nanoscale Electro-Photonic Tweezer for Terahertz Monitoring of Dynamic Assembly of Nanoparticles under Aqueous Environment

Abstract

The probing technique of the evolution of nanoparticle (NP) assembly in an aqueous environment is essential to understanding the phase evolution of the NPs in the nanoscale. Terahertz (THz) sensing with resonant structures has emerged as a high-sensitive sensing platform with unique characteristics including label-free and non-destructive manner. Nevertheless, the high absorption of liquid severely hindered direct underwater detection. Here we suggest the THz monitoring device using vertically aligned double layers of nanoslot-hybridized metamaterial which can capture and detect the NPs simultaneously. Combining the electrical tweezing techniques with spatially overlapped optical hotspots, will give powerful methods of advanced surface-sensitive biosensors.