Towards outperforming conventional sensor arrays with fabricated individual photonic vapour sensors inspired by Morpho butterflies

Radislav A. Potyrailo (), Ravi K. Bonam, John G. Hartley, Timothy A. Starkey, Peter Vukusic, Milana Vasudev, Timothy Bunning, Rajesh R. Naik, Zhexiong Tang, Manuel A. Palacios, Michael Larsen, Laurie A. Le Tarte, James C. Grande, Sheng Zhong and Tao Deng
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Radislav A. Potyrailo: General Electric Global Research Center
Ravi K. Bonam: College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, State University of New York
John G. Hartley: College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, State University of New York
Timothy A. Starkey: School of Physics, University of Exeter
Peter Vukusic: School of Physics, University of Exeter
Milana Vasudev: Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory
Timothy Bunning: Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory
Rajesh R. Naik: Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory
Zhexiong Tang: General Electric Global Research Center
Manuel A. Palacios: General Electric Global Research Center
Michael Larsen: General Electric Global Research Center
Laurie A. Le Tarte: General Electric Global Research Center
James C. Grande: General Electric Global Research Center
Sheng Zhong: General Electric Global Research Center
Tao Deng: General Electric Global Research Center

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Combining vapour sensors into arrays is an accepted compromise to mitigate poor selectivity of conventional sensors. Here we show individual nanofabricated sensors that not only selectively detect separate vapours in pristine conditions but also quantify these vapours in mixtures, and when blended with a variable moisture background. Our sensor design is inspired by the iridescent nanostructure and gradient surface chemistry of Morpho butterflies and involves physical and chemical design criteria. The physical design involves optical interference and diffraction on the fabricated periodic nanostructures and uses optical loss in the nanostructure to enhance the spectral diversity of reflectance. The chemical design uses spatially controlled nanostructure functionalization. Thus, while quantitation of analytes in the presence of variable backgrounds is challenging for most sensor arrays, we achieve this goal using individual multivariable sensors. These colorimetric sensors can be tuned for numerous vapour sensing scenarios in confined areas or as individual nodes for distributed monitoring.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8959

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