Optical sensors based on evanescent field sensing Part 1. Surface plasmon resonance sensors

Abstract

In the last years, a great interest has focused on the development of selective and sensitive sensors for the detection of very low levels of chemicals and biological substances and for the measurement of molecular interactions in-situ aud in real time. These requirenments can be achieved with optical sensors, mainly those based on evanescent wave principies, because they allow direct monitoring of small changes in optical properties. A review of the fundamental aspects and applications of optical evanescent wave sensors is presented here. This review is divided in two parts. The first one will be focus on Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors and the second one on Integrated Optical Evanescent Wave Sensors. Applications in environmental monitoring, biomedícal analysis and industrial processes control will be discussed. The commercial devices on the market and an outlook of future prospects of this technology wíll be reviewed.