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An Inverted Honeycomb Plasmonic Lattice as an Efficient Refractive Index Sensor
Javier Rodríguez-Álvarez1,2, Lorenzo Gnoatto1, Marc Martínez-Castells1
1Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 2, 2021
Summary
This study introduces an efficient refractive index sensor using an gold (Au) inverted honeycomb lattice for enhanced light-matter interactions. The sensor demonstrates high sensitivity and a strong figure of merit, paving the way for improved plasmonic sensing technologies.
Area of Science:
- Nanophotonics
- Plasmonics
- Sensor Technology
Background:
- Refractive index sensors are crucial for detecting changes in material properties.
- Plasmonic sensors offer high sensitivity but often require further enhancement.
- Optimizing light-matter interactions is key to improving sensor performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and demonstrate an efficient refractive index sensor with enhanced sensitivity.
- To maximize out-of-plane near-field distributions for improved sensing capabilities.
- To explore the potential of gold inverted honeycomb lattices in sensing applications.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations were employed to study the optical response of the heterostructure.
- A heterostructure comprising an Au inverted honeycomb lattice, SiO2 layers, and an Au mirror was designed.
- Electron beam lithography was used for experimental fabrication and validation.
Main Results:
- High sensitivity values ranging from 99 to 395 nm/RIU were achieved for thin material layers (50-200 nm).
- A figure of merit as high as 199 RIU⁻¹ was obtained for detecting refractive index changes in water.
- Experimental measurements validated the simulation results, confirming the sensor's performance.
Conclusions:
- The proposed heterostructure design significantly enhances the sensitivity of refractive index sensors.
- The use of an Au inverted honeycomb lattice is effective for maximizing near-field distributions.
- This work provides a foundation for advancing plasmonic sensor sensitivity and enhanced surface spectroscopies.
