Bringing one-dimensional photonic crystals to a new light: an electrophotonic platform for chemical mass transport visualisation and cell monitoring

Photonic sensor technologies represent an important milestone in monitoring complex physical, chemical and biological systems. We present an integrated chemo- and bio-photonic sensing scheme drawing on the integration of one-dimensional (1D) stimuli-responsive photonic crystals (PCs) with an electrophotonic visualisation platform. We demonstrate various modi operandi, including the real-time mapping of spatial concentration distribution of a chemical analyte and the in situ monitoring of adhesive cell cultures, enabled by the modular combination of stimuli-responsive 1D PCs with various light emitters and detectors.