Graphene Hybrid Metasurfaces for Mid-Infrared Molecular Sensors

Nanomaterials (Basel). 2023 Jul 20;13(14):2113. doi: 10.3390/nano13142113.

Abstract

We integrated graphene with asymmetric metal metasurfaces and optimised the geometry dependent photoresponse towards optoelectronic molecular sensor devices. Through careful tuning and characterisation, combining finite-difference time-domain simulations, electron-beam lithography-based nanofabrication, and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, we achieved precise control over the mid-infrared peak response wavelengths, transmittance, and reflectance. Our methods enabled simple, reproducible and targeted mid-infrared molecular sensing over a wide range of geometrical parameters. With ultimate minimization potential down to atomic thicknesses and a diverse range of complimentary nanomaterial combinations, we anticipate a high impact potential of these technologies for environmental monitoring, threat detection, and point of care diagnostics.

Keywords: gas sensor; graphene; metasurface; mid-infrared; photodetector.