Optical biosensors based on integrated polymer light source and polymer photodiode

Evanescent coupling is used to couple light from an organic Lambertian emitter into a single‐mode planar waveguide. A polymer light emitting diode pumps a photoluminescent layer located directly on top of the waveguide. At the out‐coupling grating stage, a fully organic mini‐spectrometer compatible with monolithical integration on optical bio chips has been developed. It consists of a single‐mode waveguide with integrated diffraction grating and a dense array of polymer photodiodes as sensing element. An overall spectral resolution of down to 5 nm has been achieved with the integrated optoelectronic system. As a proof of principle the fully organic optical device has been used in combination with a fluidic system to demonstrate an absorption‐based bio‐test with mouse immunoglobulin G. In a further step towards low‐cost and disposable lab‐on‐chip biosensors, the mentioned organic building blocks have been combined with a surface plasmon stack integrated directly onto the single mode waveguide.