NIRT: Photonic Crystal Fibers with Nanoscale Functionalized Air Holes as Robust Chemical and Biological Sensors

二氧化硅光子晶体光纤（PCF）中的轴向对准的空气孔阵列和由此产生的光学特性为开发具有传统光纤技术无法实现的检测灵敏度的传感器提供了巨大的机会。该NIRT项目旨在探索具有纳米尺度功能化空气孔的空芯和实芯PCF的前沿，用于化学和生物传感。光子晶体光纤将通过改进的溶胶-凝胶法制造光纤。纳米尺度表面功能化将按照两种策略进行：（1）通过自组装单层介导的Ag纳米颗粒的表面附着用于化学传感，其中可以利用表面增强的拉曼散射和（2）生物特异性识别实体的表面结合用于生物传感。表面功能化研究将采用各种表面敏感的分析工具。传感测量将利用一系列最先进的激光技术。实验研究将增加计算机模拟，考虑到表面功能化，分析物介质和生物特异性相互作用的光学特性的光子晶体光纤的影响。 该项目代表了第一个已知的奋进，将PCF与纳米技术集成，以实现潜在的强大的化学和生物传感。它将在各个任务领域产生丰富的基本和实验信息。该项目的成功将增强纳米级功能化PCF传感器，传感器阵列和传感器网络的前景，用于各种应用，如远程和动态环境监测，制造过程安全，医疗诊断，生物和化学战预警以及国土防御。

0404002DuThe array of axially aligned air holes and the resultant optical characteristics in silica photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) present an enormous opportunity to develop sensors with detection sensitivity not achievable by conventional optical fiber technology. This NIRT project aims to explore the frontier of hollow- and solid-core PCFs with nanoscale-functionalized air holes for chemical and biological sensing. PCFs will be fabricated via a modified sol-gel method for optical fibers. Nanoscale surface functionalization will be conducted following two strategies: (1) surface attachment of Ag nanoparticles mediated by self-assembled monolayers for chemical sensing, where surface-enhanced Raman scattering can be exploited and (2) surface binding of biospecific recognition entities for biological sensing. Surface functionalization studies will employ various surface-sensitive analytical tools. Sensing measurements will make use of a range of state-of-the-art laser techniques. Experimental studies will be augmented by computer simulation, taking into account of the effects of surface functionalization, analyte medium, and biospecific interactions on the optical characteristics of PCFs. This project represents the first known endeavor to integrate PCFs with nanotechnology for potentially robust chemical and biological sensing. It will yield a wealth of fundamental and experimental information in the various task areas. Success of the project will enhance the prospects of nanoscale-functionalized PCF sensors, sensor arrays, and sensor networks for diverse applications such as remote and dynamic environmental monitoring, manufacturing process safety, medical diagnosis, early warning of biological and chemical warfare, and homeland defense.