Plasmonic Cross-Reactive Sensing Noses and Tongues

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Artificial sensory technologies, including electronic/optical noses and tongues, have advanced significantly in identifying complex analyte mixtures.
• Improvements stem from evolving manufacturing of cross-reactive sensor arrays (CRSAs) and novel computational methods.
• CRSAs have broad applications in early diagnosis, food quality, and environmental monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the importance and versatility of optical-CRSAs, with a focus on plasmonic materials.
• To discuss recent applications and explore potential new research directions in this field.

Main Methods:

• Focus on plasmonic cross-reactive sensor arrays (CRSAs).
• Integration of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) with CRSAs.
• Application of advanced spectroscopies: LSPR, metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF), surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA), surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS).

Main Results:

• Plasmonic CRSAs provide enhanced capabilities for remote, fast, and real-time monitoring.
• Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) combined with CRSAs enable advanced spectroscopic techniques.
• Optical-CRSAs, particularly plasmonic ones, demonstrate significant potential across various scientific disciplines.

Conclusions:

• Plasmonic CRSAs represent a key advancement in artificial sensory technologies.
• Their unique properties facilitate enhanced detection and monitoring.
• Further research into optical-CRSAs, especially plasmonic variants, promises innovative solutions for sensing challenges.