A team of researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) has created a new and highly sensitive nano-spectral sensor that overcomes current limitations. Professor Kyoung-Duck Park and Taeyoung Moon and Huitae Joo, PhD candidates, from the Department of Physics, are behind the breakthrough.
A single nano-spectroscopic sensor has been developed to detect molecular fingerprints. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for fast and accurate analytical methods to prepare for possible future virus outbreaks. Raman spectroscopy, which uses gold nanostructures, provides insight into the internal structure and chemical properties of materials by analyzing the unique vibrations of molecules, also known as “molecular fingerprints,” using light with exceptional sensitivity. This technique could be essential in determining the presence of a virus. However, The man spectroscopy sensors are limited in their ability to detect only one type of virus with a single device, which affects productivity, detection speed, and cost in clinical applications. In contrast, the research team has created a one-dimensional structure at the millimeter scale with gold nanogaps that can accommodate only a single molecule tightly. This advancement allows for large-area, high-sensitivity Raman spectroscopic sensing. Additionally, they have successfully integrated flexible materials onto the substrate of the gold nanogap spectroscopic sensor. Finally, the team has developed a source technology for a broadband active n.The nano-spectral sensor has the capability to detect specific substances using a single device by widening the nanogap to the size of a virus and adjusting its width to accommodate different materials, including viruses. In addition, the sensitivity and control of the sensor were enhanced by incorporating adaptive optics technology from fields like space optics. This includes the James Webb Telescope. Furthermore, a conceptual model was developed to extend the one-dimensional structure of the sensor into a two-dimensional spectroscopic sensor, confirming the ability to amplify Raman spectroscopic signals.The research team has developed a method that can amplify the signal of viruses by up to several billion times. This means that it is now possible to quickly and accurately detect the presence of viruses in real-time, a process that used to take days. The team’s work, which is currently awaiting patent approval, is expected to be used for rapid and highly sensitive real-time testing in the event of unexpected outbreaks like COVID-19, in order to prevent the spread of disease. Lead author Taeyoung Moon highlighted the importance of their achievement, stating that it will advance scientific research and help identify unique virus properties.The study not only advances the understanding of materials ranging from molecules to viruses, but it also makes practical applications easier by allowing for the quick detection of a wide range of new viruses using a custom sensor. The research was a collaboration between Professor Dai-Sik Kim’s team from UNIST’s Department of Physics and Professor Yung Doug Suh’s team from UNIST’s Department of Chemistry. The Deputy Director of the Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Professor Yung Doug Suh, led the team. In addition, measurements were carried out by Yeonjeong Koo, Mingu Kang, and Hyeongwoo Lee from POSTECH’s Department of Physics. The research results have significant implications.A recent study has been published in the international journal Nano Letters.
