Near-interface sensing, imaging and nanometrology using smart surfaces

We present two distinct types of 'smart' surfaces designed for facilitating the quantitative exploration of dynamic processes occurring at sub-wavelength distances from interfaces, using far-field optical techniques. Based on evanescent waves in excitation and/or emission, we achieve an axial localization precision of about 10 nm. The first type of substrate incorporates nanocavities in a thin metallic film, enhancing and confining the electromagnetic field to a tiny volume. The second sample consists of a thin fluorescent film sandwiched between transparent spacer and capping layers deposited on a glass coverslip. The emission pattern from this film codes detailed information about the local fluorophore environment, namely, the refractive index, defects, reciprocal lattice, and the axial distance of the molecular emitter from the surface. An application to axial metrology in total internal reflection fluorescence and axial super-localisation microscopes is presented.