Nanoscale Hotspot-Induced Emitters in DNA Origami-Assisted Nanoantennas

We report the observation of hotspot-induced emitters and photoluminescence enhancement of up to 42-fold from DNA origami-assisted plasmonic dimer nanoantennas upon excess polarized laser illumination. The presence of DNA and laser polarization alignment along the dimer axis are critical for the generation of bright emitters responsible for the observed PL increase. The emission spectrum reveals characteristic Raman peaks of amorphous carbon, suggesting the formation of carbon-based emitters in the nanoantenna due to the plasmonic hotspots at the longitudinal antenna resonance.

Automated summary

We observed hotspot-induced emitters and significant enhancement of photoluminescence in plasmonic dimer nanoantennas with the assistance of DNA origami upon excess polarized laser illumination. The alignment of DNA and laser polarization along the dimer axis is crucial for the generation of bright emitters and the observed increase in photoluminescence. The emission spectrum indicates the formation of carbon-based emitters due to plasmonic hotspots at the longitudinal antenna resonance.