On‐Chip Spiral Waveguides for Ultrasensitive and Rapid Detection of Nanoscale Objects

• DOI: 10.1002/adma.201800262
• Publication Date: 2018-04-30T08:13:26Z
• Authors: Shui‐Jing Tang; Shuai Liu; Xiao‐Chong Yu; Qinghai Song; Qihuang Gong; Yun‐Feng Xiao
• Keywords: Optofluidics; Waveguide; Lab-on-a-Chip

Abstract Ultrasensitive and rapid detection of nano‐objects is crucial in both fundamental studies practical applications. Optical sensors using evanescent fields microcavities, plasmonic resonators, nanofibers allow label‐free down to single molecules, but applications are severely hindered by long response time device reproducibility. Here, an on‐chip dense waveguide sensor monitor unlabeled nanoparticles a strong optical field demonstrated. The spiral nanowaveguide design enables two orders magnitude enhancement sensing area compared straight waveguide, significantly improving the particle capture ability shortening target analysis time. In addition, measurement noise suppressed level 10 −4 transmitted power, pushing limit particles size 100 nm. on silicon‐on‐isolator platform can be fabricated reproducibly conventional semiconductor processing compatible with surface functionalization chemistries microfluidics, which could lead widespread use for environmental monitoring human health.