Recent Advances in Gas and Chemical Detection by Vernier Effect-Based Photonic Sensors

Abstract

Recently, the Vernier effect has been proved to be very efficient for significantly improving the sensitivity and the limit of detection (LOD) of chemical, biochemical and gas photonic sensors. In this paper a review of compact and efficient photonic sensors based on the Vernier effect is presented. The most relevant results of several theoretical and experimental works are reported, and the theoretical model of the typical Vernier effect-based sensor is discussed as well. In particular, sensitivity up to 460 μm/RIU has been experimentally reported, while ultra-high sensitivity of 2,500 μm/RIU and ultra-low LOD of 8.79 × 10−8 RIU have been theoretically demonstrated, employing a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) as sensing device instead of an add drop ring resonator.

Comparison between Vernier-cascade and MZI as transducer for biosensing with on-chip spectral filter

“…The MZI has a long-standing tradition as an integrated photonic biosensor in various wavelength ranges and material platforms [11][12][13][14][15][16][17], including in Si 3 N 4 [18,19] which we will use for our fabricated devices. The Vernier has been used in sensing applications as well [20][21][22][23][24]. To our knowledge, neither has so far been used in combination with an on-chip spectral filter, apart from the Vernier sensor in our earlier work [9,10].…”

Design of optical channel waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) for environmental sensor applications

“…In this study, the length of waveguides was equal and Δn eff was the difference in effective refractive index between the two waveguides, namely the path sensing and reference [4]. [7].…”

“…The waveguide ring-resonator-based sensor has several advantages as follow. The shape is small and compact, thus it can be integrated with other components (light source, detector, coupler and so on), and it is easy for mass production [4].…”

“…Optical signals have begun to be applied to the sensors for various needs such as chemical sensors, atmospheric or oceanic with a high level of sensitivity in a compact and simple devices [1][2][3][4]. Many types of waveguide sensors have been studied, such as planar waveguide structures, Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) and silicon micro-ring, for example SMR and MPRR [5][6].…”

Sensitivity improvement of multipath optical ring resonators using silicon-on-insulator technology

“…Therefore, it has begun to shift from the electronic sensor to the optical sensor [1], [2]. Many types of waveguide sensors have been studied, such as planar waveguide structures, Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) and silicon micro-ring resonators [3].…”