High sensitivity surface plasmon resonance sensor based on D-shaped photonic crystal fiber using Ag/α-Fe2O3

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics, 168 (2018) 467-474. doi:10.1016/j.ijleo.2018.04.119 Kai Tong 16.00 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} In the present study an ultra-high sensitive optical fiber Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensor is proposed, where the sensor is based on a D-shaped fiber with a nanolayer coating of Silver (Ag) and Hematite ( α− Fe2O3 ). The Ag/ α− Fe2O3 layer is deposited on the longitudinal surface of residual cladding. The α− Fe2O3 layer protects the Ag layer from oxidation and effectively enhances the surface plasmon wave while interacting with free electrons. In this structure, free electrons on the metal surface were stimulated via evanescent waves on the fibre surface to generate surface plasmon waves.Finite Element Method (FEM) modeling is employed to investigate the refractive index (RI) response of the SPR sensor. The resonance absorption peaks were monitored to determine the changes in refractive index (RI). The SPR sensor exhibits an ultra-high RI sensitivity of 9200 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) in the RI range of 1.33 to 1.41. The SPR performance suggests that it is a potential candidate for various applications of sensing such as biosensors and chemical sensing.