Basudev Lahiri

Asymmetric split ring resonators for optical sensing of organic materials

Asymmetric Split Ring Resonators are known to exhibit resonant modes where the optical electric field is strongest near the ends of the arms, thereby increasing the sensitivity of spectral techniques such as surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). By producing asymmetry in the structures, the two arms of the ring produce distinct plasmonic resonances related to their lengths - but are also affected by the presence of the other arm. This combination leads to a steepening of the slope of the reflection spectrum between the resonances that increases the sensitivity of the resonant behavior to the addition of different molecular species. We describe experimental results, supported by simulation, on the resonances of a series of circular split ring resonators with different gap and section lengths--at wavelengths in the mid-infra red regions of the spectrum--and their utilization for highly sensitive detection of organic compounds. We have used thin films of PMMA with different thicknesses, resulting in characteristic shifts from the original resonance. We also demonstrate matching of asymmetric split ring resonators to a molecular resonance of PMMA.

Magnetic response of split ring resonators (SRRs) at visible frequencies

In this paper, we report on a substantial shift in the response of arrays of similarly sized Split Ring Resonators (SRRs), having a rectangular U-shaped form--and made respectively of aluminium and of gold. We also demonstrate that it is possible to obtain the polarization dependent LC peak in the visible spectrum--by using SRRs based on aluminium, rather than gold. The response of metallic SRRs scales linearly with size. At optical frequencies, metals stop behaving like nearly perfect conductors and begin displaying characteristically different behaviour, in accord with the Drude model. The response at higher frequencies, such as those in the visible and near infra-red, depends both on their size and on the individual properties of the metals used. A higher frequency limit has been observed in the polarization dependent response (in particular the LC resonance peak) of gold based SRRs in the near infrared region. By using aluminium based SRRs instead of gold, the higher frequency limit of the LC resonance can be further shifted into the visible spectrum.

Impact of titanium adhesion layers on the response of arrays of metallic split-ring resonators (SRRs)

At higher frequencies (visible and infrared) both the dimensions and the individual metal properties play an important role in determining the resonant response of arrays of SRRs. As a result, a substantial difference between the responses of gold- and Al-based SRR arrays has been observed. Additionally, deposition of gold SRRs onto a substrate typically involves the use of an additional adhesion layer. Titanium (Ti) is the most common adhesive thin-film material used to attach gold onto dielectric/semiconductor substrates. In this paper we investigate the impact of the Ti adhesion layer on the overall response of Au-based nano-scale SRRs. The results quantify the extent to which the overall difference in the resonance frequencies between Au- and Al-based SRRs is due to the presence of the Ti. We show that even a 2-nm-thick Ti layer can red-shift the position of SRR resonance by 20 nm. Finally, we demonstrate that by intentional addition of titanium in the Au-based SRRs, their overall resonant response can be tuned widely in frequency, but at the expense of resonance magnitude.

Enhanced Fano resonance of organic material films deposited on arrays of asymmetric split-ring resonators (A-SRRs)

Depositing very thin organic films on the surface of arrays of asymmetric split-ring resonators (A-SRRs) produces a shift in their resonance spectra that can be utilized for sensitive analyte detection. Here we show that when poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) is used as an organic probe (analyte) on top of the A-SRR array, the phase and amplitude of a characteristic molecular Fano resonance associated with a carbonyl bond changes according to the spectral positions of the trapped mode resonance of the A-SRRs and their plasmonic reflection peaks. Furthermore, we localize blocks of PMMA at different locations on the A-SRR array to determine the effectiveness of detection of very small amounts of non-uniformly distributed analyte.

Resonance hybridization in nanoantenna arrays based on asymmetric split-ring resonators

Asymmetric split ring resonators (A-SRRs) are composed of two separate metallic arcs of asymmetric lengths that share the same center-of-curvature. The two arcs interact to produce a very steep slope in the reflection spectrum. We utilize the plasmon resonance hybridization model to understand and describe the working of an A-SRR and produce experimental and simulation results to show that the A-SRR resonances are a “modified linear superposition” of the individual plasmon resonances coming from each of the arcs.

Design and process development of a photonic crystal polymer biosensor for point-of-care diagnostics

In this work, we report advances in the fabrication and anticipated performance of a polymer biosensor photonic chip developed in the European Union project P3SENS (FP7-ICT4-248304). Due to the low cost requirements of point-ofcare applications, the photonic chip is fabricated from nanocomposite polymeric materials, using highly scalable nanoimprint- lithography (NIL). A suitable microfluidic structure transporting the analyte solutions to the sensor area is also fabricated in polymer and adequately bonded to the photonic chip. We first discuss the design and the simulated performance of a high-Q resonant cavity photonic crystal sensor made of a high refractive index polyimide core waveguide on a low index polymer cladding. We then report the advances in doped and undoped polymer thin film processing and characterization for fabricating the photonic sensor chip. Finally the development of the microfluidic chip is presented in details, including the characterisation of the fluidic behaviour, the technological and material aspects of the 3D polymer structuring and the stable adhesion strategies for bonding the fluidic and the photonic chips, with regards to the constraints imposed by the bioreceptors supposedly already present on the sensors.

Gold asymmetric split ring resonators (A-SRRs) for nano sensing of estradiol

Recent advances have seen asymmetric split ring resonators (A-SRRs) developed as sensing elements to record a shift in their peaks when there is a corresponding change in the surrounding environment. These studies have led to the investigation of Fano resonances associated with the coupling of the resonances of the A-SRRs with the molecular resonances of the analyte. The hormone estradiol (E2) was dissolved in ethanol and evaporated, leaving thickness of a few hundreds of nanometres on top of gold A-SRRs on a silica substrate. The reflectance was measured and a red shift is recorded from the resonators plasmonic peaks. The geometric sizes of the ASRRs are calculated to tune the plasmonic resonances near the molecular resonance of the C-H stretch at nominally 3.33 microns. Corresponding Lumerical modelling of the experimental data is performed using only the intensity and wavelength to match the Fano resonance at modified wavelengths of 3.42 and 3.49 microns.

Optical properties of split ring resonator metamaterial structures on semiconductor substrates

Metamaterials based on single-layer metallic Split Ring Resonators (SRR) and Wires have been demonstrated to have a resonant response in the near infra-red wavelength range. The use of semiconductor substrates gives the potential for control of the resonant properties of split-ring resonator (SRR) structures by means of active changes in the carrier concentration obtained using either electrical injection or photo-excitation. We examine the influence of extended wires that are either parallel or perpendicular to the gap of the SRRs and report on an equivalent circuit model that provides an accurate method of determining the polarisation dependent resonant response for incident light perpendicular to the surface. Good agreement is obtained for the substantial shift observed in the position of the resonances when the planar metalisation is changed from gold to aluminium.

Asymmetric split H-shape nanoantennas for molecular sensing

In this paper we report on a very sensitive biosensor based on gold asymmetric nanoantennas that are capable of enhancing the molecular resonances of C-H bonds. The nanoantennas are arranged as arrays of asymmetric-split H-shape (ASH) structures, tuned to produce plasmonic resonances with reflectance double peaks within the mid-infrared vibrational resonances of C-H bonds for the assay of deposited films of the molecule 17β-estradiol (E2), used as an analyte. Measurements and numerical simulations of the reflectance spectra have enabled an estimated enhancement factor on the order of 105 to be obtained for a thin film of E2 on the ASH array. A high sensitivity value of 2335 nm/RIU was achieved, together with a figure of merit of approximately 8. Our experimental results were corroborated using numerical simulations for the C-H stretch vibrational resonances from the analyte, superimposed on the plasmonic resonances of the ASH nanoantennas.

Mapping the sensitivity of split ring resonators using a localized analyte

Split ring resonator (SRR) based metamaterials have frequently been demonstrated for use as optical sensors of organic materials. This is made possible by matching the wavelength of the SRR plasmonic resonance with a molecular resonance of a specific analyte, which is usually placed on top of the metal structure. However, systematic studies of SRRs that identify the regions that exhibit a high electric field strength are commonly performed using simulations. In this paper we demonstrate that areas of high electric field strength, termed “hot-spots,” can be found by localizing a small quantity of organic analyte at various positions on or near the structure. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the SRR to the localized analyte can be quantified to determine, experimentally, suitable regions for optical sensing.