Visually constructing the chemical structure of a single molecule by scanning Raman picoscopy

• 来源期刊: 国家科学评论（英文版）
• 关键词: scanning Raman picoscopy tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy structure determination vibrational mode imaging interference effect
• 年，卷（期）: 2019,（6）
• 页码范围: 1169-1175
• 页数: 7页
• 语种: 英文
• DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwz180

摘要

The strong spatial confinement of a nanocavity plasmonic field has made it possible to visualize the inner structure of a single molecule and even to distinguish its vibrational modes in real space.With such ever-improved spatial resolution,it is anticipated that full vibrational imaging of a molecule could be achieved to reveal molecular structural details.Here we demonstrate full Raman images of individual vibrational modes at the (a)ngstr(o)m level for a single Mg-porphine molecule,revealing distinct characteristics of each vibrational mode in real space.Furthermore,by exploiting the underlying interference effect and Raman fingerprint database,we propose a new methodology for structural determination,which we have called ‘scanning Raman picoscopy’,to show how such ultrahigh-resolution spectromicroscopic vibrational images can be used to visually assemble the chemical structure of a single molecule through a simple Lego-like building process.