Giant suppression of photobleaching for single molecule detection via the Purcell effect

Nano Lett. 2013;13(12):5949-53. doi: 10.1021/nl403047m. Epub 2013 Nov 21.

Abstract

We report giant suppression of photobleaching and a prolonged lifespan of single fluorescent molecules via the Purcell effect in plasmonic nanostructures. The plasmonic structures enhance the spontaneous emission of excited fluorescent molecules, reduce the probability of activating photochemical reactions that destroy the molecules, and hence suppress the bleaching. Experimentally, we observe up to a 1000-fold increase in the total number of photons that we can harvest from a single fluorescent molecule before it bleaches. This approach demonstrates the potential of using the Purcell effect to manipulate photochemical reactions at the subwavelength scale.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Carbocyanines / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology*
  • Photobleaching*
  • Photons

Substances

  • Carbocyanines
  • Fluorescent Dyes