Ultra-sensitive hexagonal PCF-SPR sensor with a broad detection range. Issue 20 (27th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Wei; Hu, Chunjie; Zhou, Lei; Yi, Zao; Liu, Chao; Lv, Jingwei; Yang, Lin; Chu, Paul K.
• Is Part Of: Journal of modern optics. Volume 67:Issue 20(2020)
• Page Start: 1545
• Page End: 1554
• Publication Date: 2020-11-27
• Subjects: Photonic crystal fibre -- surface plasmon resonance -- ultra-high sensitivity -- broad detection-scope -- finite element method -- external gold coating; Optics -- Periodicals; 535
• DOI: 10.1080/09500340.2021.1872727
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-0340

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A photonic crystal fibre (PCF) sensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with a hexagonal structure and external gold coating is designed and demonstrated to have a broad detection range and ultra-high sensitivity. Gold is chosen as the plasmonic materials due to the inert and stable chemical properties and the gold coating on the PCF-SPR sensor also simplifies the detection and fabrication processes. The sensing properties are analysed by the finite element method (FEM). In this sensor, the y-polarized mode with the large mode field area shows better performance such as the high spectral sensitivity of 28, 700 nm/RIU, wide analyte refractive index (RI) range from 1.28 to 1.43, resolution of 3.48×10 -6 RIU, and maximum amplitude sensitivity of 2481.06 RIU −1 . Furthermore, the paragon figure of merit and signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor are 517.81 RIU −1 and 5.18, respectively.