Design of an optical sensor based on organic optoelectronics and nanoplasmonics for multiplex and multimodal detection

—On-site analysis of multiple analytes from different classes (such as heavy metals, proteins and small molecules), at the sensitivity required for a selected application, is a hard technological challenge. In this context, optical sensing in miniaturized systems has the largest potential. We present here the design and optimization of a miniaturized optical sensor with multiple channels, capable of multimodal optical detection in each channel, and the proof-of-concept realization of sub-systems providing two complementary detection modes: plasmon enhanced fluorescence and localized surface plasmon resonance. The multichannel (enabling multiplexing) and multimodal optical sensor is designed to have a total size of one inch-square and optimized sensing performance, obtained by combining organic optoelectronic and nanoplasmonic components.