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Review
. 2016 Dec 23;17(1):12.
doi: 10.3390/s17010012.

Plasmonic Fiber Optic Refractometric Sensors: From Conventional Architectures to Recent Design Trends

Elizaveta Klantsataya  1 , Peipei Jia  2   3 , Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem  4   5 , Tanya M Monro  6   7 , Alexandre François  8   9
Affiliations
Review

Plasmonic Fiber Optic Refractometric Sensors: From Conventional Architectures to Recent Design Trends

Elizaveta Klantsataya et al. Sensors (Basel). .

Abstract

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) fiber sensor research has grown since the first demonstration over 20 year ago into a rich and diverse field with a wide range of optical fiber architectures, plasmonic coatings, and excitation and interrogation methods. Yet, the large diversity of SPR fiber sensor designs has made it difficult to understand the advantages of each approach. Here, we review SPR fiber sensor architectures, covering the latest developments from optical fiber geometries to plasmonic coatings. By developing a systematic approach to fiber-based SPR designs, we identify and discuss future research opportunities based on a performance comparison of the different approaches for sensing applications.

Keywords: Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR); Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR); fiber sensors; optical fiber; plasmonics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Fiber-based SPR sensor. Change in the refractive index of the sample (δn) causes change in the resonant condition, which is seen as a shift of the resonant wavelength (δλ) (dip in the transmitted spectra).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Classification of SPR fiber sensors. MMF: Multi Mode Fiber; SMF: Single Mode Fiber; MOF: Microstructured Optical Fiber; PMF: Polarization Maintaining Fiber; FBG: Fiber Bragg Grating; LPG: Long Period Fiber Gratings; TFBG: Tilted Fiber Bragg Gratings; LSPR: Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematics of geometry-modified optical fiber SPR sensors implemented on a side of an optical fiber: (a) Tapered fiber SPR probe; (b) Hetero-core structure; (c) D-shaped SPR probe; (d) U-shaped SPR probe.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematics of geometry-modified optical fiber SPR sensors implemented on a tip of an optical fiber: (a) Flat fiber tip SPR probe with end mirror; (b) Angle polished flat fiber tip SPR sensor; (c) Tapered tip SPR probe; (d) LSPR fiber tip probe.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Examples of fiber interior SPR sensors: (a) Wagon-wheel fiber SPR sensor with triangular hole geometry [38]; (b) MOF fiber SPR sensor with crescent-shaped holes [36]; (c) PCF SPR sensor with circular holes [79]; (d) Microcapillary fiber SPR sensor geometry [80].
Figure 6
Figure 6
Schematics of the fiber grating-assisted SPR fiber sensors: (a) Etched Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) SPR sensor; (b) Long Period Fiber Grating (LPFG) SPR sensor; (c) Tilted Fiber Bragg Grating (TFBG) SPR sensor.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Cross sections of optical fiber core with common metal coating layouts: (a) Asymmetric one-sided coating; (b) Symmetric double-sided coating; (c) Symmetric cylindrical coating, typically produced by chemical deposition.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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