Numerical Study of a High-Performance SPR Sensor Using ZnS and Fluorinated Graphene with Consideration of Experimental Parameters

Abstract A surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based sensor, which consists of aluminum (Al) as a plasmonic metal and zinc sulfide (ZnS) as the dielectric layer, has been proposed in a modified Kretschmann configuration. An engineered layer of Fluorinated Graphene (FG) as a 2D nanomaterial has been included in the proposed configuration for better interaction with the bio-analyte. The proposed sensing device is designed using the Transfer matrix and finite element methods for angle interrogation at the wavelength of 1550 nm, considering performance parameters like sensitivity, SPR linewidth, detection accuracy, and figure of merit (FOM). The multilayered engineered plasmonic sensor is found to have a maximum value of sensitivity (242.85 °/RIU) and enhanced FOM (451.88 RIU⁻ ¹). The effect of different glass substrates, plasmonic metals, dielectric, and 2D nanomaterials on the performance parameters has been studied. Finally, the engineered plasmonic biosensor {CaF₂-Al (30nm)-ZnS (2nm)-FG} is used to detect different malaria stages by distinguishing healthy and malaria-infected red blood cells, showing its potential as one of the best candidates for biomedical applications.