Nanostructured sensing substrates, chips and methods of fabrication

A method for making a nanostructured substrate for optical and/or electrochemical analysis, comprising:

• providing a substrate base layer having at least a first surface;
• forming a hydrophobic coating disposed over at least the first surface of the substrate base layer;
• and
• forming a metallic nanostructure layer by vapor deposition, disposed over at least a portion of the hydrophobic coating;
• wherein the metallic nanostructure layer has a nominal thickness from about 3 nanometers to about 10 nanometers;
• and
• wherein the metallic nanostructure layer comprises a plurality of metallic nanostructures deposited at quasi-periodic intervals and separated by gaps, the metallic nanostructures having an average diameter from about 10 nanometers to about 100 nanometers.

An antimicrobial material comprising:

• a substrate base layer having at least a first surface;
• a hydrophobic coating disposed over at least the first surface of the substrate;
• and
• a metallic nanostructure layer disposed over at least a portion of the hydrophobic coating,
• wherein the metallic nanostructure layer imparts antimicrobial activity to the substrate.