Nanoparticleassemblies for biological and chemical sensing

Abstract

Metal and semiconductor nanoparticles attract much attention due to their astonishing properties and numerous possibilities for applications in sensors. Significant progress has been made on the synthesis of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles with different shapes, composition, and controllable optical and electrical properties. For realizing their application in sensing, the multidimensional assembly of nanoparticles with controlled arrays is required. Nanoparticle assemblies give rise to new nanostructures and produce remarkable collective physical properties, which offer many opportunities for sensing applications. This review summarizes recent progress in the utilization of highly ordered one-, two-, and three-dimensional assemblies of nanoparticles for chemical and biological sensing, and future development in this research area is also discussed.