Dual-band in situ molecular spectroscopy using single-sized Al-disk perfect absorbers

TL;DR

This paper introduces a dual-band perfect absorber with single-sized Al-disk resonators that enhances infrared vibrational spectroscopy, enabling high-sensitivity detection and real-time monitoring of ultrathin polymer layers and their chemical reactions.

Contribution

It presents a novel dual-band perfect absorber design that offers polarization independence and enhanced nearfield intensity for improved vibrational sensing.

Findings

Enhanced sensitivity in detecting ultrathin polymer layers

Real-time monitoring of polymer crosslinking reactions

Polarization-independent sensing platform

Abstract

In this manuscript, we have demonstrated that the antenna-enhanced infrared vibrational spectroscopy can be a powerful platform for high-sensitivity detection of ultrathin layer of polymer molecules and in situ monitoring of their crosslinking reaction as well as their kinetics of network formation. Our precisely designed dual-band perfect absorber (DPA) made of singles-sized resonator array shows strongly-enhanced nearfield intensity and polarization independence, providing a powerful antenna platform for the bond-selective vibrational sensing.