Nano-sensors

We work on optical sensors based on change of optical properties of the material such as reflectance, absorption and luminescence when exposed to environmental contaminants.

In particular, we studied and developed systems sensible to volatile organic compounds (VOC) based on quantum dots and photonic crystals. In addition, we have a consolidated experience in the synthesis and characterization of optical detection of heavy metal ions in water based on the change of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Ag nanoparticles or on the change of the luminescence of silver nanoclusters. Recently, we studied in close collaboration with prof. R. Pizzoferrato of the Industrial Engineering Department of Tor Vergata the sensibility of unfolded fullerene quantum dots to heavy metal ions in water.

 

References

- P. Prosposito, L. Burratti, A. Bellingeri, G. Protano, C. Faleri, I. Corsi, C. Battocchio, G. Iucci, L. Tortora, V. Secchi, S. Franchi, I. Venditti
Fluorescence enhancement induced by the interaction of silver nanoclusters with lead ions in water
Nanomaterials 9, 1353 (2019)

- P. Corsi, I. Venditti, C. Battocchio, C. Meneghini, F. Bruni, P. Prosposito, F. Mochi, B. Capone
Designing an Optimal Ion Adsorber at the Nanoscale: The Unusual Nucleation of AgNP/Co 2+ -Ni 2+ Binary Mixtures
J. Phys. Chem. C 123(6), 3855-3860 (2019)

- L. Burratti, E. Ciotta, E. Bolli, S. Kaciulis, M. Casalboni, F. De Matteis, A. Garzon-Manjon, C. Scheu, R. Pizzoferrato, P. Prosposito,
Fluorescence enhancement induced by the interaction of silver nanoclusters with lead ions in water
Colloids and Surfaces A, 579, 123634, (2019)

- L. Burratti, E. Bolli, M. Casalboni, F. De Matteis, F. Mochi, R. Francini, S. Casciardi, P. Prosposito,
Synthesis of Fluorescent Ag Nanoclusters for Sensing and Imaging Applications
Materials Science Forum, 941, 2243-2248 (2018)

- L. Burratti, M. Casalboni, F. De Matteis, R. Pizzoferrato, P. Prosposito,
Polystyrene Opals Responsive to Methanol Vapors
Materials 11, 1547 (2018)

- F. Mochi, L. Burratti, I. Fratoddi, I. Venditti, C. Battocchio, L. Carlini, G. Iucci, M. Casalboni, F. De Matteis, S. Casciardi, S. Nappini, I. Pis and P. Prosposito,
Plasmonic Sensor Based on Interaction between Silver Nanoparticles and Ni2+ or Co2+ in Water
Nanomaterials 8(7), 488 (2018)

- E. Ciotta, P. Prosposito, P. Tagliatesta, C. Lovecchio, L. Stella, S. Kaciulis, P. Soltani, E. Placidi, R. Pizzoferrato
Discriminating between Different Heavy Metal Ions with Fullerene-Derived Nanoparticles
Sensors ,18, 1496 (2018)

- L. Burratti, F. De Matteis, M. Casalboni, R. Francini, R. Pizzoferrato, P. Prosposito
Polystyrene photonic crystals as optical sensors for volatile organic compounds
Mat. Chem. Phys.,212, 274-281 (2018)

- E. Ciotta, S. Paoloni, M. Richetta, P. Prosposito, P. Tagliatesta, C. Lorecchio, I. Venditti, I. Fratoddi, S. Casciardi and R. Pizzoferrato
Sensitivity to Heavy-Metal Ions of Unfolded Fullerene Quantum Dots
Sensors, 17, 2614 (2017)

- P. Prosposito, F. Mochi, E. Ciotta, M. Casalboni, F. De Matteis, I. Venditti, L. Fontana, G. Testa and I. Fratoddi,
Hydrophilic silver nanoparticles with tunable optical properties: application for the detection of heavy metals in water
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol, 7,1654-1661(2016)

- R. De Angelis, M. Casalboni, F. De Matteis, F. Hatami, W.T. Masselink, H. Zhang, P. Prosposito
Chemical sensitivity of InP/In0.48Ga0.52P surface quantum dots studied by time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy
J. Lumin., 168, 54-58 (2015)

- D. Barettin, M. Auf Der Maur, R. De Angelis, P. Prosposito, M. Casalboni , A. Pecchia
Inter-dot strain field effect on the optoelectronic properties of realistic InP lateral quantum-dot molecules
J. Appl.Phys. 117(9), 094306 (2015)

- D. Barettin, R. De Angelis, P. Prosposito, M. Auf der Maur, M.Casalboni, A. Pecchia,
Model of a realistic InP surface quantum dot extrapolated from atomic force microscopy results
Nanotechnology 25, 195201(1-9), (2014). 

- R. De Angelis, L. D’Amico, M. Casalboni, F. Hatami, W.T. Masselink, P. Proposito,
Photoluminescence sensitivity to methanol vapours of surface InP quantum dot: effect of dot size and coverage
Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 189, 113-117, (2013).

- R. De Angelis, M. Casalboni, F. Hatami, A. Ugur, W.T. Masselink, P. Prosposito
Vapour sensing properties of InP quantum dot luminescence
Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 162, 149–152 (2012).