UNIST develops advanced sensor for single-molecule detection

A research team at UNIST has developed a new sensor technology that can detect single molecules very precisely. This technology involves a special structure that can adjust tiny gaps at the nanometer scale based on temperature changes. The new sensor allows for real-time adjustments of these gaps. This means it can match the size of different molecules, leading to much better detection capabilities than traditional sensors can provide. The team's findings were published in the journal Advanced Optical Materials. The flexible structures they've created are important for a technique called Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). This technique enhances the signals of molecules significantly, making it possible to analyze very small amounts of substances. Researchers achieved an extremely high enhancement factor in SERS signals and can now detect concentrations as low as 10−12 M, which is suitable for identifying just one molecule. Dr. Mahsa Haddadi Moghaddam, who led the research, noted that this technology could have important applications in both environmental and medical diagnostics.