Analysis of Silicon Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors with Different Amino Acids

A semiconductor prism coupler based nano-plasmonic sensor consisting of a high refractive index (RI) silicon prism, a gold (Au) metal film and different amino acids was used as a dielectric sample for sensing in the in the Attenuated Total Internal Reflection (ATIR) mode. An additional silicon nano-layer has been used for increasing stability and sensitivity of the surface plasmon resonance-sensor which causes enhancement of the evanescent field near the metal-analyte interface compared to the traditional three layer structure. Positional swap of the silicon nano-layer from above the metal surface to below the metal surface causes further enhances of the evanescent field near the metal-analyte interface. Performance of the nano-plasmonic sensors depending upon the high refractive index silicon prism, additional silicon nano-layer and swapping mechanism is discussed with the help of sensing performance for different amino acids with corresponding image response for the proposed nano-plasmonic sensor in a MATLAB environment.