Multiplex plasmonic sensors on the longitudinal side of an optical fiber

A plasmonic sensor system for the detection of chemical and biological specimens, said plasmonic sensor system comprising:

• plasmonic sensor, the plasmonic sensor comprising:
• an optical fiber, the optical fiber comprising;
• a core;
• a cladding;
• and
• a polished flat surface of the core formed on a longitudinal side of the optical fiber;
• a regular array of nanoantennae formed in a pattern on the polished flat surface of the core formed in the longitudinal side of the optical fiber;
• a laser source structured and operable to generate and provide laser light signal into the first end of the optical fiber;
• an optical coupler structured and operable to guide the light signal generated by the laser source into and out of the optical fiber;
• an optical detector structured and operable to detect the light signal as it exits the optical fiber;
• and
• a computer-based processing system structured and operable to execute analysis software, via a processor, whereby characteristics of the light signal received at the optical detector is analyzed to detect various chemical or biological attributes contained in specimen that has been placed in contact with the plasmonic sensor.

A method of fabricating a plasmonic sensor for the detection of chemical and biological specimens, wherein the plasmonic sensor comprises an optical fiber having a diameter, a longitudinal side and a core, said method comprising:

• polishing a region of the longitudinal side of the optical fiber to generate a flat exposed surface of the core;
• applying a layer comprising one or more sequential sublayer of material to the flat exposed surface of the core, wherein the material composition of each of the one or more sequential sublayer is at least one of an electrically conductive material and a semiconductive material, and the layer comprises an uppermost surface;
• applying a patternable substrate atop the uppermost surface;
• using lithography to pattern an array of holes in the substrate, such that the holes penetrate to the uppermost surface;
• and
• one of:
• electroplating the uppermost surface with a conductive or semiconductive disc material to generate an array of nanoantennae that are located and defined by the array of holes;
• and
• forming nano sized holes in the uppermost surface that are located and defined by the array of holes and that extend at most from the uppermost surface to the flat exposed surface of the core;
• and
• removing the patternable substrate.