Sensitivity enhancement in 2D plasmonic crystals

In this paper, the author shows that a self-assembled monolayer of decanethiol (C₁₀-SAM) molecules, which is only ~1.3 nm in optical thickness, can be easily detected using 2D plasmonic crystal (PCL) with an angular shift as large as 2.86° which is more than one order of magnitude higher than conventional prism-based SPR and an estimated sensitivity larger than 900°/RIU is possible. The experimental data are accompanied by a model description that explains the principle of sensitivity enhancement. However the field enhancement of 2D PCL will be further improved when the optimum SPP excitation conditions are met.