Advanced nanoplasmonic biochemical sensors for next generation of ultra-high performance environmental monitoring tools

The development of biochemical sensing devices that can achieve simple and fast detection with high sensitivity and specificity would significantly facilitate the efficiency for environmental monitoring. Optical sensors based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect can provide several advantages that other sensors are difficult to achieve such as real-time and label-free sensing. Current SPR approaches are incapable of detecting small particles with toxins (bacteria and heavy metal ions) at a low concentration level. In this context, we will aim at the use of phase singularity enhanced optical signal to achieve a compact and more sensitive detection. By taking up this challenge, it would allow us to engineer the sensing chips in a resolution of sub-nanometer and realize an efficient and compact sensor for environmental monitoring for small pollutants.