Asymmetrical-nanofinger device for surface-enhanced luminescense

1. An asymmetrical-nanofinger device for surface-enhanced luminescence, said device comprising:

a substrate; and

a plurality of nanofingers coupled with said substrate, comprising:

a primary nanofinger of said plurality having a primary active-material cap; and

a secondary nanofinger of said plurality having a secondary active-material cap;

wherein an average diameter of said primary active-material cap is substantially greater than an average diameter of said secondary active-material cap; and

wherein said primary nanofinger and said secondary nanofinger of said plurality of nanofingers are to self-arrange into a close-packed configuration with an analyte molecule disposed between said primary active-material cap and said secondary active-material cap.

2. The asymmetrical-nanofinger device of claim 1 ,

wherein said primary active-material cap is tuned to a frequency of exciting electromagnetic radiation; and

said secondary active-material cap is tuned to a frequency of emitted electromagnetic radiation.

3. The asymmetrical-nanofinger device of claim 1 ,

wherein said secondary active-material cap is tuned to a frequency of exciting electromagnetic radiation; and

said primary active-material cap is tuned to a frequency of emitted electromagnetic radiation.

4. The asymmetrical-nanofinger device of claim 1 ,

wherein said primary nanofinger of said plurality further comprises a primary flexible column, said primary flexible column having a primary tip coupled to said primary active-material cap; and

wherein said secondary nanofinger of said plurality further comprises a secondary flexible column, said secondary flexible column having a secondary tip coupled to said secondary active-material cap.

5. The asymmetrical-nanofinger device of claim 4 ,

wherein an average diameter of said primary flexible column is substantially greater than an average diameter of said secondary flexible column.

6. The asymmetrical-nanofinger device of claim 4 ,

wherein an active material of said primary active-material cap and said secondary active-material cap comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, copper, platinum, aluminum and combinations of gold, silver, copper, platinum, and aluminum.

7. The asymmetrical-nanofinger device of claim 1 ,

wherein a shape of said primary active-material cap is substantially disk-like; and

wherein a shape of said secondary active-material cap is substantially disk-like.

8. The asymmetrical-nanofinger device of claim 1 ,

wherein said primary active-material cap of a plurality of active-material caps is surrounded by secondary active-material caps disposed as satellites proximate to said primary active-material cap.

9. The asymmetrical-nanofinger device of claim 1 , wherein said primary active-material cap of a plurality of active-material caps is to enhance luminescence from a molecule disposed in close proximity to said primary active-material cap.

10. A method for fabricating an asymmetrical-nanofinger device for surface-enhanced luminescence, said method comprising:

providing a substrate;

producing a plurality of flexible columns on said substrate, said plurality of flexible columns comprising a primary flexible column and a secondary flexible column, wherein an average diameter of said primary flexible column is substantially greater than an average diameter of said secondary flexible column; and

fabricating a plurality of active-material caps on a plurality of tips of said plurality of flexible columns, said plurality of active-material caps comprising a primary active-material cap and a secondary active-material cap disposed on respective tips of said primary flexible column and said secondary flexible column, to produce a plurality of nanofingers comprising a respective primary nanofinger and a respective secondary nanofinger, wherein an average diameter of said primary active-material cap is substantially greater than an average diameter of said secondary active-material cap.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said fabricating said plurality of active-material caps comprises depositing a metal onto said plurality of tips of said plurality of flexible columns, wherein a thickness of a metallic layer of said deposited metal in said primary active-material cap is substantially equal to a respective thickness of a corresponding metallic layer of said deposited metal in said secondary active-material cap.

12. An optical apparatus, comprising:

an optical component comprising:

an asymmetrical-nanofinger device for surface-enhanced luminescence, said device comprising:

a substrate; and

a plurality of nanofingers coupled with said substrate, comprising:

a primary nanofinger of said plurality having a primary active-material cap;

a secondary nanofinger of said plurality having a secondary active-material cap;

wherein an average diameter of said primary active-material cap is substantially greater than an average diameter of said secondary active-material cap; and

wherein said primary nanofinger and said secondary nanofinger of said plurality of nanofingers are to self-arrange into a close-packed configuration with an analyte molecule disposed between said primary active-material cap and said secondary active-material cap.

13. The optical apparatus of claim 12 , said optical component is selected from the group consisting of a mirror, a grating, a wave-guide, a cuvette, a test strip, and an analytical cell.

14. The optical apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

a spectrometer, said spectrometer to accept said optical component for performing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) of said molecule.

15. The optical apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

a luminescence analyzer, said luminescence analyzer to accept said optical component for measuring surface-enhanced luminescence from said molecule.