Microstructured Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Based on Inkjet 3D Printing Using Photocurable Resins with Tailored...

Area of Science:

• Photonics and optical sensing
• Materials science for sensor fabrication
• Additive manufacturing technologies

Background:

• Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensors are crucial for label-free biosensing.
• Traditional SPR sensors often rely on plastic optical fibers (POFs), presenting manufacturing and integration challenges.
• There is a need for cost-effective and easily manufacturable SPR sensor platforms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel 3D-printed Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensor.
• To design, manufacture, and experimentally validate the performance of the 3D-printed SPR sensor.
• To compare the performance and cost-effectiveness of the 3D-printed SPR sensor against traditional POF-based SPR sensors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two photo-curable resins for 3D printing the SPR sensor.
• Conducted numerical simulations to analyze sensor behavior.
• Performed experimental testing to measure sensor performance, specifically the Figure of Merit (FOM).

Main Results:

• The 3D-printed SPR sensor demonstrated a Figure of Merit (FOM) of 13.6.
• Performance was comparable to SPR sensors fabricated using plastic optical fibers (POFs), with a measured FOM of 13.4 for the POF configuration.
• The manufacturing cost for the 3D-printed sensor is approximately 15 €, indicating significant cost-competitiveness.

Conclusions:

• The 3D-printed SPR sensor achieves performance comparable to established POF-based sensors.
• This novel approach enables low-cost manufacturing and design freedom through 3D printing.
• The sensor's potential for integration with other optical devices on a single planar support opens new avenues for optical sensor systems.