Dual Nanoresonators for Ultrasensitive Chiral Detection

Ershad Mohammadi (Corresponding author), Andreas Tittl, Kosmas L. Tsakmakidis, T.V. Raziman, Alberto G. Curto (Corresponding author)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

41 Citations (Scopus)
214 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The discrimination of enantiomers is crucial in biochemistry. However, chiral sensing faces significant limitations due to inherently weak chiroptical signals. Nanophotonics is a promising solution to enhance sensitivity thanks to increased optical chirality maximized by strong electric and magnetic fields. Metallic and dielectric nanoparticles can separately provide electric and magnetic resonances. Here we propose their synergistic combination in hybrid metal–dielectric nanostructures to exploit their dual character for superchiral fields beyond the limits of single particles. For optimal optical chirality, in addition to maximization of the resonance strength, the resonances must spectrally coincide. Simultaneously, their electric and magnetic fields must be parallel and π/2 out of phase and spatially overlap. We demonstrate that the interplay between the strength of the resonances and these optimal conditions constrains the attainable optical chirality in resonant systems. Starting from a simple symmetric nanodimer, we derive closed-form expressions elucidating its fundamental limits of optical chirality. Building on the trade-offs of different classes of dimers, we then suggest an asymmetric dual dimer based on realistic materials. These dual nanoresonators provide strong and decoupled electric and magnetic resonances together with optimal conditions for chiral fields. Finally, we introduce more complex dual building blocks for a metasurface with a record 300-fold enhancement of local optical chirality in nanoscale gaps, enabling circular dichroism enhancement by a factor of 20. By combining analytical insight and practical designs, our results put forward hybrid resonators to increase chiral sensitivity, particularly for small molecular quantities.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1754-1762
Number of pages9
JournalACS Photonics
Volume8
Issue number6
Early online date28 May 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Jun 2021

Keywords

  • chirality
  • nanophotonics
  • circular dichroism
  • metal-dielectric metasurfaces
  • chiral sensing
  • hybrid metal-dielectric metasurfaces
  • duality
  • gap antennas
  • optical chirality

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