Articles having localized molecules disposed thereon and methods of producing same

A system comprising:

• an array of nanoscale wells disposed through an opaque layer, each well having a bottom surface formed from a transparent layer underlying the opaque layer;
• wherein a plurality of the wells in the array comprise an enzyme bound to the bottom surface and located in an observation region;
• and wherein portions of the array other than the bottom surface of the wells are substantially free of the enzyme;
• an illumination source that provides illumination to the observation regions through the transparent layer;
• and
• an optical detector that receives electromagnetic radiation emitted through the transparent layer from the observation regions.