Sensors Based on Photonic Crystals

Abstract

Chemical sensors are one of the most demanded tools of modern analytical chemistry. Recently, devices based on the registration of color changes upon reflecting visible irradiation from the surface of so-called "photonic crystals" (PC) have begun to be used for analytical chemistry purposes. Some advantages of this method are the possibility of visual detection of substances, relatively high sensitivity, and the ability to change the properties of such sensors by varying the element base of the PC. The effect of various mechanical, electrical, optical, chemical and other factors on the objects under study leads to additional changes in the spectral responses from the PC surface with deposited materials. A sufficiently short response time allows the use of such sensors for the operational control of various substances with a high degree of hazard. In the long term, such devices can be used as test systems for the detection and analysis of a wide class of chemical and biological substances. This review is devoted to various types of sensors based on photonic crystals. It deals with: photonic crystals of natural and synthetic origin; various possible structures of PC; causes of the appearance of characteristic optical properties; detection of mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic and optical effects on the PC, as well as effects on organic compounds of various classes; areas of application of sensors based on PC.