Plasmon-assisted mass sensing in a hybrid nanocrystal coupled to a nanomechanical resonator

Surface plasmons on nanoparticles provide numerous ways to alternate and manipulate light at nanoscale dimensions, which have the potential to perfect the novel electronic and optical devices. Here, we demonstrate that plasmon-assisted mass sensing can be achieved in a hybrid nanocrystal coupled to a nanomechanical resonator. Compared with the traditional mass measurements, we use an all-optical technique rather than electrical circuitry, which may avoid the heat effect, to realize an ultrasensitive mass detection. The plasmon-assisted mass measurement proposed here may eventually enable sensitive measurement applications such as on-chip detection and analysis as well as identification of compounds.