Sensitivity enhancement of surface plasmon resonance sensors through planar metallic film closely coupled to nanogratings

We investigate the sensitivity enhancement of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors through planar metallic film closely coupled to nanogratings.     

Low-cost,high performance surface plasmon resonance-compatible films characterized by the surface plasmon resonance technique

A new analytical method based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique is presented, with which SPR curves for both wavelength and angular modulations can be obtained simultaneously via only a single scan of the incident angle. Using this method, the SPR responses of TiO2-coated Cu films are characterized in the wavelength range from 600 nm to 900 nm. For the first time, we determine the effective optical constants and the thicknesses of TiO2-coated Cu films using the SPR curves of wavelength modulation. The sensitivities of prism-based SPR refractive index sensors using TiO2-coated Cu films are investigated theoretically for both wavelength and angular modulations, the results show that in the case of sensitivity with wavelength modulation, TiO2-coated Cu films are not as good as the Au film, however, they are more suitable than the Au film for SPR refractive index sensors with angular modulation because a higher sensitivity can be achieved.     

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.     

Surface plasmon optical sensor with enhanced sensitivity using top ZnO thin film

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is one of the most sensitive label-free detection methods and has been used in a wide range of chemical and biochemical sensing. Upon using a 200 nm top layer of dielectric film with a high value of the real part ε′ of the dielectric function, on top of an SPR sensor in the Kretschmann configuration, the sensitivity is improved. The refractive index effect of dielectric film on sensitivity is usually ignored. Dielectric films with different refractive indices were prepared by radio frequency magnetron (RF) sputtering and measured with spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). The imaginary part ε′′ of the top nanolayer permittivity needs to be small enough in order to reduce the losses and get sharper dips. The stability of the sensor is also improved because the nanolayer is protecting the Ag film from interacting with the environment. The response curves of the Ag/ZnO chips were obtained by using SPR sensor. Theoretical analysis of the sensitivity of the SPR sensors with different ZnO film refractive indices is presented and studied. Both experimental and simulation results show that the Ag/ZnO films exhibit an enhanced SPR over the pure Ag film with a narrower full width at half maximum (FWHM). It shows that the top ZnO layer is effective in enhancing the surface plasmon resonance and thus its sensitivity.     

Design optimization of highly sensitive LSPR enhanced surface plasmon resonance biosensors with nanoholes

For breaking through the sensitivity limitation of conventional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors, novel highly sensitive SPR biosensors with Au nanoparticles and nanogratings enhancement have been proposed recently.But in practice, these structures have obvious disadvantages.In this study, a nanohole based sensitivity enhancement SPR biosensor is proposed and the influence of different structural parameters on the performance is investigated by using rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA).Electromagnetic field distributions around the nanohole are also given out to directly explain the performance difference for various structural parameters.The results indicate that significant sensitivity increase is associated with localized surface plasmons (LSPs) excitation mediated by nanoholes.Except to outcome the weakness of other LSP based biosensors, larger resonance angle shift, reflectance amplitude, and sharper SPR curves' width are obtained simultaneously under optimized structural parameters.     

波长调制型表面等离子体共振的传感特性研究

表面等离子体共振(SPR)光学传感器能实现生物医学的快速、 无标记、 高精度检测,是生物化学分析的重要方法。 研制了基于波长调制型的Kretschmann结构表面等离子体共振(SPR)生物传感系统,研究了在体溶液传感方式下的传感性能。 利用不同浓度的乙醇和乙二醇溶液进行体溶液传感测试。 实验结果表明,在折射率低时共振波长对折射率变化响应的灵敏度低,但响应的线性度高;随着折射率增大,共振波长对折射率的响应变化的灵敏度提高。 在1.407 0～1.430 RIU折射率范围内,灵敏度高达11 487 nm·RIU-1。 传感器的共振波长的稳定性为0.213 8 nm,可分辨最小折射率趋近10-6 RIU。 所研制的波长调制型表面等离子共振传感器操作简单、 灵敏度高、 检测范围大,可实现浓度极低生物标记物的有效检测,在化学、 生物传感领域有重要的应用。     

Performance analysis of surface plasmon resonance sensor with high-order absentee layer

A surface plasmon resonance(SPR) sensor with a high-order absentee layer on the top of metallic film is proposed.The performance of the SPR sensor with NaCl, MgO, TiO_2 or AlAs high-order absentee layer is analyzed theoretically. The results indicate that the sensitivity and the full width at half maximum of those SPR sensors decrease with the increasing of the order of absentee layer, but the variation of the figure of merit(FOM) depends on the refractive index of absentee layer.By improving the order of absentee layer with high-refractive-index, the FOM of the SPR sensor can be enhanced. The maximum value of FOM for the SPR sensor with high-order TiO_2(or AlAs) absentee layer is 1.059%(or 2.587%) higher than the one with one-order absentee layer. It is believed the proposed SPR sensor with high-order absentee layer will be helpful for developing the high-performance SPR sensors.     

Concentration-related enhancement of the sensitivity of surface plasmon resonance of metallic nanoparticles to the characteristics of a dielectric environment

We present the results of theoretical and experimental studies of the optical attenuation spectra of planar nanocomposites consisting of close-packed monolayers of metallic nanoparticles placed in different dielectric matrices. We have analyzed the dependence of the spectral position of the collective surface plasmon resonance (collective SPR) on the refractive index of the dielectric environment. The experimental samples were created by successive thermal vaporization under vacuum of a metal and a dielectric. The theoretical calculations were performed using the quasicrystal approximation of multiple wave scattering theory. We have shown that an increase in the concentration of nanoparticles of noble metals shifts the maximum of the collective SPR band toward longer wavelengths, and significantly increases the sensitivity of its spectral position to the refractive index of the dielectric environment. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 4, pp. 568–572, July–August, 2008.     

High-Sensitivity Sensor Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance Enhanced Lateral Optical Beam Displacements

We present a new optical sensor based on surface plasmon resonance （SPIt） enhanced lateral optical beam displacements. Compared with the traditional SPIt methods, the new method provides higher sensitivity to the sensor system. Theoretical simulations show that the refractive index （RI） detection sensitivity of the SPR sensor based on the displacement measurement has a strong dependence on the thickness of the metal film. When the optimal thickness of the metal film is selected, the RI resolutlon of the SPIt sensor is predicted to be 2.2 × 10^-7 refractive index units （RIU）. Furthermore, it is found that the incidence angle can be used as a parameter to adjust the operating range of the sensor to different refractive index ranges.     

基于表面等离子体共振传感器的金胶体表征

设计了表面等离子体共振(SPR)传感器实验装置,制备了金膜和金纳米胶体溶液,测量了不同厚度金膜和不同浓度金胶体溶液的SPR角谱,得到了不同浓度金胶体溶液的折射率.     

Design of a highly sensitive surface plasmon resonance sensor using aluminum-based diffraction grating

A highly-sensitive grating-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor is proposed. The angular interrogation method has been used to study the performance of the sensor, and high sensitivity is obtained if the ?1st diffraction order is used to excite surface plasmon (SP). The sensitivity as well as the width of the SPR curves and reflective amplitude is considered for designing the sensor. Compared with the conventional gold (Au)-based or silver (Ag)-based SPR sensor, it is found that the aluminum (Al)-based sensor has the best performance. The oxidation problem of an Al-based SPR sensor has been addressed by coating it with an ultrathin gold film on the surface. Numerical simulations based on rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) show that the sensitivity of the optimized sensor is 245°/RIU (degree per refractive index unit).     

Tunable grating-assisted surface plasmon resonance by use of nano-polymer dispersed liquid crystal electro-optical material

This paper reports on the experimental observation of the displacement of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) excited by a metallic diffraction grating. This effect is achieved by the use of an electro-optical material composed of nano-sized droplets of liquid crystals dispersed in a host polymer. The average refractive index of this material in the form of a thin film on the undulated metal surface can be modified with the application of an external electric field and to tune the wavelength at which the SPR excitation leads to a reflection minimum. The theoretical design and experimental demonstration of the principle of this component are described.     

Ultrahigh sensitivity polarimetric strain sensor based upon D-shaped optical fiber and surface plasmon resonance technology

An ultrahigh sensitivity polarimetric strain sensor is proposed based upon a four-layer D-shaped optical fiber and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. In contrast to existing SPR-based sensors, which are based on changes in the refractive index of the overlayer, the sensor proposed in this study is based on the change in the refractive index of the fiber core in response to the application of an axial load. Specifically, the phase difference between the P and S waves after passing through the sensor under SPR conditions is measured using a common-path heterodyne interferometer and is used to determine the corresponding change in the refractive index of the core, from which the strain is then inversely derived. The experimental results show that the sensitivity of the proposed sensor is around 2.19×10? deg/ε, i.e., degree/strain. By contrast, that of a conventional (non-SPR) polarimetric fiber sensor is just 5.2×102 deg/ε. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the sensor proposed in this study represents the first reported attempt to exploit the refractive index change of the core of an SPR-based fiber sensor for strain measurement purposes.     

Investigation of dual-channel fiber-optic surface plasmon resonance sensing for biological applications

A dual-channel fiber-optic sensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for self-referencing refractive-index measurements has been proposed. Most applications of fiber-optic SPR sensors are designed to measure the refractive index of a liquid or gas sample by measuring the signal from a single surface, the sensitivity and stability of which is easily affected by the fluctuation of external environmental conditions. We have designed a dual-channel fiber-optic surface sensor with two independent SPR signals from two areas of the same probe. A prototype sensor was fabricated and characterized. The preliminary experimental results demonstrate the characteristic responses of both SPR signals from two channels that independently correspond to the refractive index changes in the liquid samples with which they are in contact. The design could be extended to a multichannel sensor with further developments. The experimental results confirmed that one channel can be used as a reference sensor that could compensate for unexpected changes in bulk refraction or temperature and develop this sensor as a practicable high-sensitivity biosensing device.     

Tuning the number of plasmon band in silver ellipsoidal nanoshell: refractive index sensing based on plasmon blending and splitting

Because of the geometric features of both rod and shell, dielectric-silver core–shell ellipsoidal nanostructure with 12–40 nm semi-major axis may bring forth four surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption peaks at most. Theoretical calculations based on quasi-static approximation show that there is surrounding refractive index-dependent plasmon blending and splitting in the absorption spectra, which makes the number of plasmon band of the silver ellipsoidal nanoshell is tunable. The sensitivity of the plasmon blending and splitting to the surrounding refractive index may be improved by increasing the shell thickness, aspect ratio or core refractive index. This local refractive index dependent-plasmon blending and splitting presents a new sensing picture based on tuning the number of SPR absorption peaks.     

Construction of the refractive index profiles for few-mode planar optical waveguides

We present a nondestructive technique to predict the refractive index profiles of isotropic planar waveguides, on which a thin gold film is deposited to as the cladding. The negative dielectric constant of the metal results in significant differences of effective indices between TE and TM modes. The two polarized modes and a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with abundant information of the surface index can be used to construct the refractive index profiles of single-mode and two-mode waveguides at a fixed wavelength.     

Effect of metamaterial layer on optical surface plasmon resonance sensor

In this paper an optical surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor with metamaterial for four and five layered structure is studied. The numerical results presented in this paper leads to a significant properties of metamaterials in sensing field. Computed results of SPR sensors using metamaterial are compared with conventional optical SPR sensors for four and five layered structure. It is seen that wider dynamic range or effective range of measurable refractive index increases when metamaterial layer is used. It is also verified that SPR sensor with metamaterial layer can dramatically enhance the resolution and reduce the reflectivity compared with conventional SPR. Validity of the magnetic field results is proved on the basis of smooth match of the fields in the different layers of the proposed optical SPR sensor.     

基于辅助电介质层的棱镜表面等离子体共振效应研究

研究了一种基于棱镜基底-辅助电介质层-金膜-待测介质四层结构的表面等离子体共振(surface plasmon resonance,SPR)效应激励模型.采用薄膜光学与波导理论,探索了由辅助电介质层与金膜复合而成共振薄膜对SPR效应的激励机理与调制特性.借助时域有限差分方法,数值模拟得到辅助电介质层属性与共振能量传输特性关系.在此基础上,构建了波长调制型棱镜辅助电介质层结构SPR激励系统.研究结果表明,当待测介质折射率相同时,相较基于棱镜基底-金膜-待测介质三层结构的Kretschmann激励模型,辅助电介质层激励模型共振光谱整体向长波方向偏移且半波宽度出现显著展宽效应.而当待测介质折射率增大时,辅助电介质层型激励模型的共振光谱不仅会向长波方向偏移,而且折射率响应灵敏度比棱镜Kretschmann三层激励模型高出75%.因此该模型能够为诸如高灵敏度检测、新型光学滤波与调制器件设计等领域的研究应用提供理论与实践储备.     

Polarization-independent on-axis light coupler for surface plasmon resonance using a concentric chirped grating

A novel on-axis one-element polarization-independent light in- and out-coupling mechanism for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is proposed. The system utilizes an integrated high-NA concentric chirped grating to both focus the incident light on the metallic film and collimate the reflected beam onto a CCD array to extract the SPR signal. With NA up to 1.47, a broad sensing dynamic range from n=1 to 1.35 can be achieved. An analytical model is implemented to demonstrate the dependency of the radial location of the resonances on the detecting substance and its sensitivity to the change of the refractive index. The model shows a trend similar to rigorous ray-tracing calculations.     

Figure-of-merit enhancement of surface plasmon resonance sensors in the spectral interrogation

We show that adding a thin dielectric layer with high refractive index on top of the metallic layer in surface plasmon resonance sensors in the Kretschmann-Raether configuration in the spectral mode causes a redshift of the resonance wavelength, narrowing of the resonance dip, and an enhancement to the spectral sensitivity. Surprisingly, together with the sensitivity enhancement, the dip becomes much narrower and the figure of merit is considerably improved, particularly in the IR range.