The Journal of Physical Chemistry C (JPC C) will publish a Virtual Special Issue (VSI) on “Nanophotonics for Chemical Imaging and Spectroscopy.” The VSI is led by Guest Editors Dr. Patrick El-Khoury (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), Prof. Zachary Schultz (The Ohio State University), and Prof. Nan Jiang (University of Illinois Chicago). Together they encourage researchers to submit their new and […]
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C (JPC C) will publish a Virtual Special Issue (VSI) on “Nanophotonics for Chemical Imaging and Spectroscopy.”
The VSI is led by Guest Editors Dr. Patrick El-Khoury (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), Prof. Zachary Schultz (The Ohio State University), and Prof. Nan Jiang (University of Illinois Chicago). Together they encourage researchers to submit their new and unpublished work by Feb. 28, 2022.
Research areas of particular interest include:
- Nanoparticle-molecule interactions in the context of ultrasensitive detection and chemical fingerprinting
- The interplay between molecules and plasmons and strong light-matter coupling
- Fundamentals of light-matter interactions at atomic scales
- Visualizing low-dimensional quantum materials on the nano and femto scales
- New approaches to monitoring chemical reactivity on the nanoscale
- New approaches to visualizing plasmonic fields on the nano and femto scales
- Plasmon enhanced/induced chemical transformation: far-field spectroscopy to nanoscale mapping
In conceiving this Virtual Special Issue, the Guest Editors were inspired by some recent exciting innovations and discoveries, including:
The manipulation of light and light-matter interactions near metallic nanostructures has enabled single molecule detection, identification, and imaging. The same approach has enabled tracking coherent dynamics and visualizing chemical transformation within a single molecule.
The distinct advantages of the so-called plasmon-enhanced optical imaging and spectroscopy approaches are self-evident: the ultimate spatial resolution (nanometer or better) and sensitivity (down to yoctomolar) are both attainable in chemical and chemical reaction imaging, all while retaining the ability to chemically fingerprint one molecule at a time. The attainable spatial resolution and sensitivity however come at a cost: the new frontier necessitates an improved understanding of light-matter interactions at atomic scales.
Through studies aimed at furthering our existing understanding of the interaction between plasmonic nanostructures and matter (molecular and low-dimensional materials), this special issue is aimed at stimulating a conversation between active practitioners in this exciting and ever-evolving branch of nanophotonics. We particularly encourage studies aimed at not just chemical, but also chemical reaction imaging with nanometer spatial and femtosecond temporal resolution.
Submission Instructions
The review process for all submissions for this VSI will be handled by JPC Senior Editor Libai Huang.
To ensure an unbiased peer-review process, the journal asks that you do not indicate within your manuscript that the submission is intended for the VSI. If you do, your manuscript will be returned for correction. Instead, when you submit your manuscript, please indicate this on your cover letter and note what part and section you feel will be the best fit. You can find a complete list of sections and other important information for authors in the JPC Author Guidelines.
As with all submissions to JPC, your manuscript should represent a rigorous scientific report of original research, as it will be peer-reviewed as a regular article. Manuscripts are expected to provide new physical insight and/or present new theoretical or computational methods of broad interest.
Contribute to this Virtual Special Issue
If you are unsure if your research is within the VSI’s scope or have other questions about submitting a manuscript to this VSI, please email JPC C Deputy Editor Gregory Hartland’s office at hartland-office@jpc.acs.org.
