Functionalized Lateral Surface Coated Lasers for Chem-Bio Detection

• Published in: 2007 IEEE Sensors pp. 1181 - 1184
• Main Authors: Goddard, L.L., Bond, T.C., Cole, G.D., Behymer, E.M.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01-10-2007
• Subjects: Biosensors; Chemical and biological sensors; Chemical lasers; Coatings; Optical arrays; Optical fiber sensors; Optical sensors; Optoelectronic and photonic sensors; Sensor arrays; Surface emitting lasers
• ISBN: 1424412617; 9781424412617
• ISSN: 1930-0395; 2168-9229
• DOI: 10.1109/ICSENS.2007.4388619

We present a class of compact, monolithic, photonic sensors consisting of multiple section edge emitting lasers with functionalized lateral surface coatings for low level detection of chemical or biological agents. Specifically, we discuss 8 mum times 250 mum Pd-coated H 2 sensors and configurations to reduce the minimum detection limit from 138 ppm for passive sensors to 1 ppm for active sensors. Compared with conventional optical H 2 sensors that use fiber gratings, surface plasmon resonances, or surface reflectance, our sensors offer the advantages of smaller size, wider dynamic range, monolithic integration of laser source and detector, and 2-D scalability to arrays of sensors that are functionalized to detect different agents.