A Short Review on the Role of the Metal-Graphene Hybrid Nanostructure in Promoting the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Performance

Abstract

Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) sensors have potential applications in essential and important areas such as bio-sensor technology, especially in medical applications and gas sensors in environmental monitoring applications. Figure of Merit (FOM) and Sensitivity (S) measurements are two ways to assess the performance of an LSPR sensor. However, LSPR sensors suffer low FOM compared to the conventional Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensor due to high losses resulting from radiative damping of LSPs waves. Different methodologies have been utilized to enhance the performance of LSPR sensors, including various geometrical and material parameters, plasmonic wave coupling from different structures, and integration of noble metals with graphene, which is the focus of this report. Recent studies of metal-graphene hybrid plasmonic systems have shown its capability of promoting the performance of the LSPR sensor to a level that enhances its chance for commercialization. In this review, fundamental physics, the operation principle, and performance assessment of the LSPR sensor are presented followed by a discussion of plasmonic materials and a summary of methods used to optimize the sensor’s performance. A focused review on metal-graphene hybrid nanostructure and a discussion of its role in promoting the performance of the LSPR sensor follow.

Synthesis and Characterization of Graphene–Silver Nanoparticle Hybrid Materials

“…The LSPR is more pronounced for the graphene-covered Ag NPs, which is redshifted to 396 nm. This redshift can be partly induced by the increased effective refractive index of the medium, due to the presence of a graphene overlayer [ 29 ]. On the other hand, the LSPR frequency ( ) is closely related to the bulk plasmon frequency ( ) of the metal through [ 30 ]: where is the density of electrons in the NPs, is the electronic charge, is the effective mass of the electron, and are the permittivity of free space and the surrounding medium, respectively.…”

Biogenic copper nanoparticles and their applications: A review

“…Under the irradiation of an electromagnetic wave, the free electrons are driven by the electric field to oscillate coherently at a plasma frequency relative to positive ions [119]. The metals rich in free electrons revealed this property so, it mostly used as a plasmonic material [120]. A number of metals (i.e., Li, Na, Al, In, Ga, and Cu) are supporting SPR for at least part of the UV-Vis-NIR region.…”

Preparation and Application of Metal Nanoparticals Elaborated Fiber Sensors

“…LSPR exists on the surface of metal nano-particles (NPs) with various morphologies, which can be spherical, ellipsoidal, or even random shape [ 7 , 8 ]. This type of SPRW is limited on the surface of metal NPs, forming an evanescent field around it, so it is very sensitive to the surrounding environment [ 9 , 10 ], mainly being used in the detection and screening of biomolecules and living cells, biochemical reaction process monitoring, biological surface analysis and treatment [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”