Surface Plasmon Sensor Based on a Dual Dielectric–Silver Photonic Crystal

We present a new type of biosensor. The principle of operation of the device is similar to conventional surface plasmon sensors, except that the ordinary metallic film in surface plasmon sensors is replaced by a one-dimensional photonic bandgap array. The advantages of using a photonic bandgap structure, instead of a metallic film, include enhanced sensitivity, physical and chemical robustness, and the ability to engineer the optical response of the device. We propose and elaborate a biosensor based on a onedimensional (1D) photonic crystal (PC) with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR). In comparison with standard SPR sensors that use silver (Ag ) or gold (Au) films, PC–Ag–PC–Au structures have narrower resonance widths, lower minimum reflectance, and higher sensitivity, making them a much better choice for biosensing applications. Moreover, the structure is compact (H = 1.139 μm), providing a better option in biosensing in comparison with other PC-SPR and conventional SPR sensors.     

Dual-mode surface-plasmon-resonance sensors using angular interrogation

Surface-plasmon-resonance (SPR) sensors are widely used in biological, chemical, medical, and environmental sensing. SPR sensors supporting two surface-plasmon modes can differentiate surface binding interactions from bulk index changes at a single sensing location. We present a new approach to dual-mode SPR sensing that offers improved differentiation between surface and bulk effects. By using an angular interrogation, both long- and short-range surface plasmons are simultaneously excited at the same location and wavelength but at different angles. Initial experiments indicate that angular interrogation offers at least a factor of 3.6 improvement in surface and bulk cross-sensitivity compared to wavelength-interrogated dual-mode SPR sensors.     

表面声波传感器及其应用

本文简要介绍多种表面声波传感器的结构、特点、应用及其研究进展概况。表面声波传感器依其波型分类,主要包括瑞利波、水平切变声板波、乐甫波和兰姆波传感器;其应用领域根据作用特点大致可分为物理传感器和化学、生物传感器,前者较易实现,后者特异性强,需要针对具体情况作更细致研究。由于表面声波的传播速度和相位对周围环境的参量变化极为敏感,因此有关传感器具有很高的灵敏度和广泛的应用领域。     

High frequency SAW stabilized oscillators for chemical agents sensors

The surface acoustic wave (SAW) chemical agents sensors usually operate in the oscillator feed-back configuration. It converts a molecular interactions between SAW surface and chemisensitive layer placed on it to relative easy to measurement electrical quantities (most often it is an operating frequency or phase change). Although in the SAW sensors the key role play chemisensitive coatings but nearly as important as the coatings are electronic circuits cooperating with SAW devices. The results of theoretical calculations show that the SAW sensors operating frequency increasing is profitable from the sensitivity point of view. Unfortunately, an advantageous sensitivity-frequency dependence is hard to apply because of decreasing of SAW device dimensions and thereby the area of the chemisensitive layer with the operating frequency. The smaller area of the layer, the smaller amount of detecting gas particles sorbed and the weakest response of the sensor. It is possible to avoid the problem using special constructions of SAW stabilised oscillators. In the paper such constructions have been described.     

Mechanism and control of current transport in GaN and AlGaN Schottky barriers for chemical sensor applications

Strong interests are recently emerging for development of integrated high-performance chemical sensor chips. In this paper, the present status of understanding and controlling the current transport in the GaN and AlGaN Schottky diodes is discussed from the viewpoint of chemical sensor applications. For this purpose, a series of works recently carried out by our group are reviewed in addition to a general discussion. First, current transport in GaN and AlGaN Schottky barriers is discussed, introducing the thin surface barrier (TSB) model to explain the anomalously large leakage currents. Following this, attempts to reduce the leakage currents are presented and discussed. Then, as an example of gas-phase sensors using Schottky barriers, a Pd/AlGaN/GaN Schottky diode hydrogen sensor developed recently by our group is presented with a discussion on the sensing mechanism and related current transport. On the other hand, in liquid-phase sensors, contact is made between liquid and semiconductor which is regarded as a kind of Schottky barrier by electrochemists. As one of such liquid-phase sensors, open-gate AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field effect transistor (HFET) pH sensor developed recently by our group is presented. Finally, a brief summary is given together with some remarks for future research.     

Optimization of sensors based on surface waves in flat-layered structures

A method for increasing the sensitivity of surface-wave sensors in multifilm structures is proposed based on the results of a theoretical study of the reflection of a plane electromagnetic wave from a flat-layered structure containing homogeneous films. A method for optimizing the parameters of the films forming the surface structure is developed and tested. The devices proposed are characterized by high field amplification in a surface layer of multifilm structure and a higher sensitivity to variations in the optical properties of the thin near-surface layer. Application of the proposed multifilm structures is expected to increase significantly the sensitivity of the existing sensors based on surface-plasmon polaritons, which are applied in modern optical multichannel biological, chemical, and physical sensor systems.     

Pd颗粒表面修饰ZnO纳米线阵列的制备及其气敏特性

采用化学气相沉积(CVD)方法在SiO_2/Si衬底生长了ZnO纳米线阵列,纳米线长约为15μm,直径为100~500 nm。通过改变溅射沉积时间(0~150 s),在ZnO纳米线表面包覆了不同厚度的Pd薄膜。在Ar气氛中,经800℃高温退火后,制备出Pd颗粒表面修饰的ZnO纳米线阵列并对其进行了气敏测试。对于乙醇而言,所有传感器最佳工作温度均为280℃。溅射时间的增加(3~10 s)导致ZnO纳米线表面Pd纳米颗粒数量及尺寸增加,传感器响应值由2.0增至3.6。过长的溅射时间(30~150 s)将导致Pd颗粒尺寸急剧增大甚至形成连续膜,传感器响应度显著降低。所有传感器对H2均表现出相对较好的选择性,传感器具有较好的响应-恢复特性和稳定性。最后,探讨了Pd颗粒表面修饰对ZnO纳米线阵列气敏传感器气敏特性的影响机制。     

Design of Highly Sensitive Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors Using Planar Metallic Films Closely Coupled to Nanogratings

We investigate the sensitivity enhancement of surface plasmon resonance （SPR） sensors using planar metallic films closely coupled to nanogratings. The strong coupling between localized surface plasmon resonances （LSPRs） presenting in metallic nanostructures and surface plasmon polaritons （SPPs） propagating at the metallic film surface leads to changes of resonance reflection properties, resulting in enhanced sensitivity of SPR sensors. The effects of thickness of the metallic films, grating period and metal materials on the refractive index sensitivity of the device are investigated. The refractive index sensitivity of nanograting-based SPR sensors is predicted to be about 543 nm/RIU （refractive index unit） using optimized structure parameters. Our study on SPR sensors using planar metallic films closely coupled to nanogratings demonstrates the potential for significant improvement in refractive index sensitivity.     

Rapid chemical-vapor sensing using optofluidic ring resonators

We develop rapid chemical-vapor sensors based on optofluidic ring resonators (OFRRs). The OFRR is a glass capillary whose circular wall supports the circulating waveguide modes (WGMs). The OFRR inner surface is coated with a vapor-sensitive polymer. The analyte and polymer interaction causes the polymer refractive index to change, which is detected as a WGM spectral shift. Owing to the excellent fluidics, the OFRR exhibits subsecond detection and recovery time with a flow rate of only 1 mL/min, a few orders of magnitude lower than that in the existing optical vapor sensors. The detection limit is estimated to be 5.6 x 10(-6) refractive index units, over ten times better than other ring-resonator vapor sensors. Ethanol and hexane vapors are used as a model system, and chemical differentiation is demonstrated with different polymer coatings.     

Study of chromium ion sorption on modified silica ordered materials

The sensitivity of chemical sensors depends on the number of receptors on the surface; hence, an important role is played by the accessible support surface. Films based on silica mesoporous mesophase materials feature the highest specific surface area for silica materials, and their walls can be modified by various functional groups. In this paper, we propose to use mesoporous mesophase films as supports of sensitive elements for Cr³⁺ ions.     

Biomaterial immobilization on polyurethane films by XeCl excimer laser processing

The surface chemical modification of polyurethane (PU) films was performed by an UV laser-induced chemical reaction in a polysaccharide solution. This process may be applicable as hydrophilic packaging of implantable medical devices and in vivo sensors. When a PU film in contact with an aqueous alginic acid (AAC) solution was irradiated with a XeCl laser, the PU film turned hydrophilic. Contact angles of water on the film were reduced from 110° to 60°. Since light absorption of the AAC solution at 308 nm was negligibly small, reactive sites were generated solely on the PU surface. There, AAC could be immobilized by chemical bonds thus allowing for a nanometer-scaled grafting of this biomolecule. The mechanism was investigated by surface analyses with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dye staining, ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. A one-photon photochemical process could beidentified. Received: 30 June 2000 / Accepted: 4 July 2000 / Published online: 13 September 2000     

High sensitivity cascaded helical-core fiber SPR sensors

The distributed optical fiber surface plasmon resonance(SPR) sensors have attracted wide attention in biosensing and chemical sensing applications. However, due to the limitation of their sensing structure, it is difficult to adjust their resonant wavelength and sensitivity. Here, novel and flexible cascaded helical-core fiber(HCF) SPR sensors are proposed theoretically and experimentally for distributed sensing applications. It is shown that the resonant wavelength and sensitivity of the sensors can be conveniently controlled by adjusting the twist pitch of the helical core. A high sensitivity of11,180 nm/RIU for refractive-index measurement ranging from 1.355 to 1.365 is realized experimentally when the twist pitch of the helical core is 1.5 mm. It is worth noting that the sensitivity can be further improved by reducing the twist pitch.For example, the sensitivity of the sensor with a twist pitch of 1.4 mm can theoretically exceed 20,000 nm/RIU. This work opens up a new way to implement multi-parameter or distributed measurement, especially to establish sensing networks integrated in a single-core fiber or a multi-core fiber.     

Study of the sorption processes in a piezoelectric-molecularly imprinted polymer film structure using Rayleigh surface acoustic waves

The sorption processes in a piezoelectric-molecularly imprinted polymer film structure, where the polymer is synthesized from the monomers of bisphenol-A glycerolate diacrylate using imprinted morpholine molecules as template molecules, are experimentally studied with Rayleigh surface acoustic waves at a frequency of 120 MHz. The desorption processes for morpholine are found to be anomalously slow as compared to other analytes under study. The possibility of the application of the results obtained for creating selective chemical sensors based on surface acoustic waves is discussed.     

金膜与银膜光纤SPR传感器

不同的金属传感层对光纤SPR传感器的特性有着重要的影响.根据该传感器的理论公式,计算了金膜、银膜传感器的输出光谱,并与实验结果进行了比较.结果表明,银膜光纤SPR传感器的理论输出光谱和实验检测光谱吻合很好,而金膜吻合较差.分析了出现这种偏差的原因.     

Synthesis of graphene ribbons using selective chemical vapor deposition

A new method for implementing graphene ribbons using selective graphene growth on metal-sidewall by chemical vapor deposition has been proposed. In this method, Ni catalyst is pre-patterned before chemical vapor deposition, and graphene film is selectively grown on the sidewall of the nickel for graphene ribbons. The graphene ribbons were confirmed by TEM image and Raman spectroscopy, and the fabricated graphene ribbon transistors showed well gate-modulated output characteristics. We believe this sidewall-graphene could be useful for applications such as graphene sensors which require high surface area of graphene.     

Integration of nanostructured materials with MEMS microhotplate platforms to enhance chemical sensor performance

The development of miniaturized chemical sensors is an increasingly active area of research. Such devices, particularly when they feature low mass and low power budgets, can impact a broad range of applications including industrial process monitoring, building security and extraterrestrial exploration. Nanostructured materials, because of their high surface area, can provide critical enhancements in the performance of chemical microsensors. We have worked to integrate nanomaterial films with MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) microhotplate platforms developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in order to gain the benefits of both the materials and the platforms in high-performance chemical sensor arrays. Here, we describe our success in overcoming the challenges of integration and the benefits that we have achieved with regard to the critical sensor performance characteristics of sensor response, speed, stability and selectivity. Nanostructured metal oxide sensing films were locally deposited onto microhotplates via chemical vapor deposition and microcapillary pipetting, and conductive polymer nanoparticle films were deposited via electrophoretic patterning. All films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and evaluated as conductometric gas sensors.The U.S. Government’s right to retain a non-exclusive royalty-free license in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

光纤化学传感技术研究近况

光纤化学传感器作为传感器的一个重要分支,结合了化学和光学的相关技术,将化学制膜、光纤技术以及化学分析中的分光光度法、拉曼光谱、荧光光谱、折射率检测等方法相融合,以其微型化,抗电磁干扰,传输信息量大,拥有自身参比等特点不断向前发展。简要综述了光纤化学传感技术研究近况和未来的发展趋势。重点对光纤pH化学传感器、光纤离子化学传感器和光纤气体化学传感器进行了介绍。简要分析了常见的敏感膜制备方法如化学键合法和溶胶凝胶(sol-gel)等方法。新型光纤——微结构光纤的出现为光纤化学传感器开辟了新的发展方向。由于其具有大的内表面积,结构设计灵活多样,光纤内部提供感应场所等特点,快速度成为光纤化学传感器的重要发展方向和研究热点。对微结构光纤衍生而来的新型光纤化学传感器进行了详细评述, 最后对光纤化学传感器的未来进行展望。     

Optimal design and fabrication of SMS fiber temperature sensor for liquid

Single-mode/multi-mode/single-mode (SMS) fiber sensors are optimally designed and used as high sensitivity temperature sensors in special temperature range. It is shown that the width of multi-mode fiber is a key factor influencing the performance of as-fabricated temperature sensors, which can be effectively controlled in the fabrication process by monitoring the output power of SMS fiber during wet acid etching process. As-fabricated temperature sensors show promising potential applications for precisely monitoring chemical reaction temperature in chemistry and biomedicine fields.     

Optical characterization of multi-layer thin films using the surface plasmon resonance method: A six-phase model based on the Kretschmann formalism

A large variety of biological and chemical sensors are based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique. The procedure for data analysis in this method (which typically involves determination of optical constants and thicknesses of multi-layered thin films) can be considerably simplified by treating the working equations of the SPR device in a phenomenological framework originally introduced by Kretschmann. Although used quite widely, the Kretschmann formalism in its present form has been limited to relatively simple thin film systems – only involving three or four material-phases. In the present work, this formalism is extended to more complex systems that are often encountered in studies of layered nanostructures. The assumptions and implications of the Kretschmann formalism are discussed in detail using a six-phase model of Fresnel reflectivity. The experimental considerations of typical SPR-based sensors are included in this model. The effects of optical absorption within the sample films are also treated. The utility of the six-phase model is demonstrated with calculated results for two recently reported experimental systems.     

Fiber-optic fluorescing sensors for nitrate and nitrite detection

Fiber-optic sensors allow remote analyses of chemical substances and they now find many applications in chemistry and biology [1,2]. The purpose of this short report is to give our first results in the development of optical-fiber chemical sensors. Among the numerous known spectrometric methods, we chose the fluorometric one, generally described as a suitable method for determining substances at the parts per million or parts per billion level, with the objective of analyzing nitrate and nitrite anions, using modifications of the fluorescence emission of suitable dyes. The detection of nitrates is based on the irreversible nitration of fluorescein, which leads to a subsequent inhibition of fluorescence emission [3]; determination of nitrites corresponds to their addition on 2,3-diaminonaphthalene, which on the contrary, improves the fluorescence emission [4]. To set up simple instrumentation, we are developing fiber-optic sensors. This consists of (i) realizing an extrinsic active optical fiber by chemical linkage of suitable fluorescent dyes on silica fiber involving silanization reaction (APTES) and chemical methods and (ii) designing an optical device which is appropriate for measurements with optical fibers. The threshold of detection, coating efficiency, and stability with time are presented.