Review of optical sensing and manipulation of chiral molecules and nanostructures with the focus on plasmonic enhancements [Invited]

Chiral molecules are ubiquitous in nature; many important synthetic chemicals and drugs are chiral. Detecting chiral molecules and separating the enantiomers is difficult because their physiochemical properties can be very similar. Here we review the optical approaches that are emerging for detecting and manipulating chiral molecules and chiral nanostructures. Our review focuses on the methods that have used plasmonics to enhance the chiroptical response. We also review the fabrication and assembly of (dynamic) chiral plasmonic nanosystems in this context. Published by The Optical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Automated summary

Chiral molecules play an important role in nature, and optical approaches have emerged as effective methods for detecting and manipulating them. Plasmonics has been utilized to enhance the chiroptical response, and dynamic chiral plasmonic nanosystems have been fabricated and assembled for this purpose.