Development of Ultra-Dense Plasmonic Sensors Arrays Using Epitaxial Periodically-Perforated Silver Films

本研究的目的是开发基于外延沉积银薄膜的等离子体中红外传感器。该方法是利用金属中亚波长孔阵列的非凡光传输。由这种空穴阵列支撑的表面等离子激元极化负责非凡的光传输，并且对周围介质或分析物的折射率高度敏感。将利用最近发现的全向光子带隙现象。为了增强效果，原子光滑的金属薄膜将在各种衬底上生长。该间隙的全向特性使光聚焦在一个超小（一个波长）的传感器上。如果成功，这项研究的好处将包括开发用于分析超少量多种分析物的新工具，用于使用中红外传感进行疾病检测。光谱的中红外部分对于传感应用至关重要，因为大而复杂的分子的化学组成可以通过它们的中红外光学“指纹”来揭示。这些传感技术可能会彻底改变生物和化学物质的无标签检测。未来的光学传感设备也应该能够处理微量的分析物，并且在一个非常密集的小型紧密间隔的传感器中这样做。该项目将包括向德克萨斯州的高中、本科和研究生西班牙裔学生提供大量服务。来自当地学校的高中生将在PI的实验室进行暑期研究，与研究生合作，并接受最近在圣安东尼奥/奥斯汀地区少数民族学生中建立的导师网络的指导，旨在提高少数民族学生对纳米科学的兴趣和认识。

The objective of this research effort is to develop plasmonic mid-infrared sensors based on epitaxially deposited silver films. The approach is to utilize the extraordinary optical transmission through arrays of sub-wavelength holes in a metal. Surface plasmon polaritons supported by such hole arrays are responsible for the extraordinary Optical transmission, and are highly sensitive to the refractive index of the surrounding medium or analyte. A recently discovered phenomenon of the omni-directional photonic bandgap will be utilized. To enhance the effect, atomically smooth metal films will be grown on various substrates. The omni-directional nature of the gap enables focusing light on an ultra-small (one wavelength across) sensor.If successful, the benefits of this research will include the development of novel tools for analyzing ultra-small amounts of multiple analytes for disease detection using mid-infrared sensing. The mid-infrared part of the spectrum is critically important for sensing applications because chemical composition of large and complex molecules can be revealed through their mid-infrared optical "fingerprints". These sensing techniques could potentially revolutionize label-free detection of biological and chemical substances. Future optical sensing devices should also be capable of processing minute amounts of analyte, and do so in a very dense format of small closely spaced sensors. The project will include significant outreach to high school, undergraduate, and graduate Hispanic students in Texas. High school students from local schools will conduct summer research in PI's laboratories, collaborate with graduate students, and receive mentorship from the recently established Mentorship Networks among minority students in the San Antonio/Austin area aimed at enhancing the interest and awareness of nanoscale science among minority students.