METHOD AND SENSOR FOR DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF MOLECULES WITH A DIPOLE MOMENT

摘要

There is provided a method for detecting the presence of molecules (10) with a dipole moment, the method comprising: providing (SI) a two-dimensional layer of material (2) exhibiting optically inaccessible excitonic states; subjecting (S2) the layer of material (2) to an environment potentially comprising a concentration of molecules (10) with a dipole moment; applying (S3) light to a surface (3) of the layer of material (2); detecting (S4) an optical absorption spectrum of the layer of material (2); and identifying (S5), in the optical absorption spectrum, a first peak (12) ascribable to optically accessible excitonic states and a second peak (13) ascribable to optically inaccessible excitonic states, the second peak (13) being distinguishable from the first peak (12) and indicating the presence of molecules (10) with a dipole moment at the surface (3). There is also provided a sensor (1) for detecting presence of molecules (10) with a dipole moment.