Graphene Plasmonics in Sensor Applications: A Review.

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Graphene supports surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in the mid-infrared to terahertz range, unlike noble metals.
• Graphene SPPs offer significantly longer lifetimes and smaller confinement volumes compared to metallic SPPs.
• These unique properties position graphene plasmonics for novel sensor development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential of graphene plasmonics for high-performance sensor applications.
• To summarize theoretical backgrounds and discuss key aspects of graphene plasmons.
• To examine advancements in graphene-based optical and biological sensors.

Main Methods:

• Summarizing theoretical background of graphene plasmons.
• Discussing interactions between graphene and SPPs induced by metallic nanostructures.
• Reviewing electrical control of SPPs via Fermi level adjustment.

Main Results:

• Graphene plasmonics enables unique SPP generation and properties not achievable with conventional materials.
• Graphene plasmonics shows promise for optical sensors, biological sensors, and components like absorbers/emitters.
• Electrical tunability of graphene SPPs allows for reconfigurable optical devices.

Conclusions:

• Graphene plasmonics offers significant advantages for developing novel, high-performance sensors.
• Further research into fabrication and integration with other 2D materials is crucial for advanced devices.
• This review aids researchers in designing and developing graphene plasmonic sensors.