Abstract
Understanding light-matter interaction at the nanoscale requires probing the optical properties of matter at the individual nanoabsorber level. To this end, we developed a nanomechanical photothermal sensing platform that can be used as a full spectromicroscopy tool for single molecule and single particle analysis. As a demonstration, the absorption cross-section of individual gold nanorods is resolved from a spectroscopic and polarization standpoint. By exploiting the capabilities of nanomechanical photothermal spectromicroscopy, the longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonance in the NIR range is unraveled and quantitatively characterized. The polarization features of the transversal surface plasmon resonance in the VIS range are also analyzed. The measurements are compared with the finite element method, elucidating the role played by electron surface and bulk scattering in these plasmonic nanostructures, as well as the interaction between the nanoabsorber and the nanoresonator, ultimately resulting in absorption strength modulation. Finally, a comprehensive comparison is conducted, evaluating the signal-to-noise ratio of nanomechanical photothermal spectroscopy against other cutting-edge single molecule and particle spectroscopy techniques. This analysis highlights the remarkable potential of nanomechanical photothermal spectroscopy due to its exceptional sensitivity.