Spectroelectrochemical study of sensors photoactivated by plasmonic nanoparticles

• Grant number: 23/10670-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: November 24, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Cancino Bernardi
• Grantee: Francisco Malva Chiaratti Soares de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/17971-3 - Electrochemical characterization of plasmonic electrodes via scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Nanotechnology has been widely used in the scientific field, contributing significantly to the development of electrochemical devices capable of playing an important role in nanomedicine. In particular, plasmonic nanoparticles stand out in this area due to the localized surface plasmonic effect (LSPR) which originates from the resonant electrons arranged on the surface of metals. With a correct frequency, gold nanoparticles can be irradiated providing very energetic electrons, capable of activating chemical reactions due to the combination with molecular orbitals of other species. The photoactivation of electrons, which can be expanded by varying the morphology of the nanoparticle, is capable of improving the development of electrochemical sensors. Thus, the following scientific initiation project proposes the synthesis and characterization of gold nanorods, and the construction and characterization of plasmonic transducer electrodes based on PEDOT:PSS and AuNR for amplification and conservation of the electrical signal in diagnoses based on electrochemical techniques. This will allow a spectroelectrochemical study of sensors photoactivated by plasmonic nanoparticles to be carried out. The proposed study aims to optimize the use of photoactivated plasmonic nanoparticles so that they become a viable alternative for the future of biosensors, significantly expanding the sensitivity and detection limit of sensors and biosensors.