Controlling plasmonic coupling and fluorescence energy transfer through organic adaptors

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In the first part of this thesis, a measurement technique based on the plasmonic interaction of nanoparticles (NPs) and a metallic film was developed. Charged gold NPs linked to a gold film compress or stretch the linkers according to the applied potential, with their scattering color changing from green to red as they move closer to the surface. The study aimed to establish conditions for single molecule experiments, presenting a flexible platform to investigate nanoscale particle displacements and resonance shifts due to plasmonic interactions. Key factors for persistent, reversible distance modulations were identified, including NP surface modifications, SAMs, salinity, potential range, and frequency in a newly developed optical setup. The elastic properties of polymer layers were also probed, with increased driving potential frequency leading to cutoff frequency determinations. Additionally, silver NPs were explored for their potential to exhibit greater red-shifts near a gold film, focusing on their growth in solution via the reaction of Tollens’ reagent with glucose. The second part addresses the bottom-up self-assembly of a DNA-based photonic wire, utilizing three types of fluorophores for energy transport along double-stranded DNA. The donor chromophore and energy acceptor were attached at the ends, with an intercalating cyanine dye in between. This controlled dye placement, achieved with polyamides (PAs) binding to s