Surface Plasmonic Sensors: Sensing Mechanism and Recent Applications

Surface plasmonic sensors have been widely used in biology, chemistry, and environment monitoring. These sensors exhibit extraordinary sensitivity based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) or localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects, and they have found commercial applications. In this review, we present recent progress in the field of surface plasmonic sensors, mainly in the configurations of planar metastructures and optical-fiber waveguides. In the metastructure platform, the optical sensors based on LSPR, hyperbolic dispersion, Fano resonance, and two-dimensional (2D) materials integration are introduced. The optical-fiber sensors integrated with LSPR/SPR structures and 2D materials are summarized. We also introduce the recent advances in quantum plasmonic sensing beyond the classical shot noise limit. The challenges and opportunities in this field are discussed.

Automated summary

The recent progress in surface plasmonic sensors, focusing on planar metastructures and optical-fiber waveguides, as well as the use of sensors based on LSPR, hyperbolic dispersion, Fano resonance, and 2D materials integration, was presented in this review. The integration of LSPR/SPR structures and 2D materials in optical-fiber sensors was also summarized, along with advances in quantum plasmonic sensing beyond the classical shot noise limit. Challenges and opportunities in this field were discussed.