Gold Nanorod Enhanced Fluorescence Enables Single‐Molecule Electrochemistry of Methylene Blue. Issue 13 (23rd February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Weichun; Caldarola, Martín; Pradhan, Biswajit; Orrit, Michel
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 56:Issue 13(2017)
• Page Start: 3566
• Page End: 3569
• Publication Date: 2017-02-23
• Subjects: electrochemistry -- enhanced fluorescence -- gold nanorods -- methylene blue -- single-molecule studies; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201612389
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Redox reactions are central to energy conversion and life metabolism. Herein we present electrochemical measurements with fluorescent readout of the redox‐sensitive dye Methylene Blue (MB), at the single‐molecule (SM) level. To overcome the low fluorescence quantum yield of MB we enhanced fluorescence by using individual gold nanorods to achieve the required sensitivity. By measuring the same molecule at different electrochemical potentials we determined the mid‐point potential of each single molecule through its redox‐induced fluorescence blinking dynamics. Abstract : Electric light orchestrated : The low fluorescence quantum yield of the redox‐sensitive dye Methylene Blue (MB) can be overcome by using individual gold nanorods. The resulting enhanced fluorescence allows electrochemical measurements with fluorescent readout to be carried out at the single‐molecule level. The mid‐point potential of each single molecule can be determined through its redox‐induced fluorescence blinking dynamics.