The Monomolecular Observation Platform Developed
The Monomolecular Observation Platform Developed
  • Reporter Kim Su-min
  • 승인 2018.04.18 16:43
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▲Prof. Kim Ki-moon
▲Prof. Kim Ki-moon

Professor Kim Ki-moon (CHEM, Director of IBS Center for Self-assembly and Complexity), Hwang Woo-seup (CHEM, Ph.D. Candidate), Dr. Baek Kang-kyun (IBS Center for Self-assembly and Complexity) developed a platform for detecting and observing a single molecule using Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy is a technique that uses a laser to reveal the chemical composition of a few nanometers size samples. It makes it easier to observe single molecules because it does not require complex processes or specialized equipment.

The research team first used cucurbituril, a hollow amber-like molecule, to keep silver nanoparticles and silver substrates at a distance of 2.5 nm. When a laser beam is shot in the visible region, the signal emitted by the molecules trapped in the center of the cucurbituril is dramatically changed, creating a hotspot that can brighten the molecules.

Then host-guest interaction, one of the great features of cucurbituril is used. Cucurbituril, sitting just like a host, exactly detects and calls the desired single molecule. Through this process, the inside of the molecule can be observed intimately.