Performance characteristics and permittivity modeling of a surface plasmon resonance sensor for metal surface monitoring in a synthetic maritime environment

Abstract

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), an established optical sensing mode for providing quantified surface, is applied here to evaluate its suitability to provide optical parameters from metal layer measurements in a synthetic marine environment. We investigated silver noble metal films exposed to standard saline solution. Silver layers exhibit both long-term durability, and linear temporal reflectivity change, recorded in SPR minimum angle and SPR curve shape. Optical sensor design was achieved using Fresnel's optical theory for isotropic multi-layer media. We developed a datafitting routine, providing numerical real and imaginary permittivity, and thickness solutions for corroded surfaces.