High-Sensitivity Terahertz Refractive Index Sensor in a Multilayered Structure with Graphene.

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Terahertz (THz) frequencies offer unique properties for sensing.
• Graphene's unique electronic properties make it suitable for advanced sensor development.
• Photonic crystals enable manipulation of light propagation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a high-sensitivity optical sensor operating at terahertz frequencies.
• To investigate the sensor's performance based on a composite structure of a 1D photonic crystal and graphene.
• To explore the potential of this sensor for biosensing and gas sensing applications.

Main Methods:

• A composite structure comprising a 1D photonic crystal coated with monolayer graphene was designed.
• A sensing medium was introduced between the 1D photonic crystal and the graphene layer.
• Optical resonance excitation between graphene and the 1D photonic crystal was utilized.

Main Results:

• The sensor demonstrated high sensitivity to variations in graphene's Fermi energy.
• Sensitivity was also observed with changes in the sensing medium's thickness and refractive index.
• The sensor's performance was found to be dependent on the number of graphene layers, with optimal parameters yielding maximum sensitivity.

Conclusions:

• The proposed graphene-based 1D photonic crystal sensor exhibits high sensitivity at terahertz frequencies.
• The sensor's design is promising for the development of novel terahertz biosensors and gas sensors.
• Further research can explore various applications leveraging this advanced sensor configuration.