Plasmonic sensor based on offset-splicing and waist-expanded taper using multicore fiber for detection of Aflatoxins B1 in critical sectors
Citation
Liu, X., Singh, R., Li, M., Li, G., Min, R., Marques, C., Zhang, B., & Kumar, S. (2023). Plasmonic sensor based on offset-splicing and waist-expanded taper using multicore fiber for detection of Aflatoxins B1 in critical sectors. Optics Express, 31(3), 4783–4800.
Keywords
- plasmonic sensor
- Aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) detection
- multicore fiber, offset-splicing
- waist-expanded taper
- gold nanoparticles
- Niobium carbide (Nb2CTx) MXene
- localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)
- sensitivity
- limit of detection
Brief
A new, portable fiber optic sensor uses gold nanoparticles and Niobium carbide (Nb2CTx) MXene to detect Aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) in food, water, and other products.
Summary
This article presents a novel fiber optic sensor for the detection of Aflatoxins B1 (AFB1). The sensor is based on a multi-mode fiber (MMF) and multi-core fiber (MCF) structure, specifically an MMF-MCF-MCF-MMF configuration. This structure utilizes symmetric transverse offset splicing and a waist-expanded taper to enhance evanescent waves and create a strong evanescent field.
To further improve the sensor's performance, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are deposited onto the fiber probe’s surface to excite localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The sensor also incorporates Niobium carbide (Nb2CTx) MXene to enhance biocompatibility and increase the specific surface area for AFB1 antibody attachment. The sensor demonstrated a linear detection range of 0 - 1000 nM, a sensitivity of 11.7 nm/µM, and a limit of detection of 26.41nM.
The researchers highlight the sensor's potential applications in various sectors, including:
- Monitoring AFB1 in agricultural products and byproducts
- Detecting AFB1 in aquaculture, such as water fish tanks
- Real-time AFB1 monitoring in human fluids
The article emphasizes the sensor's advantages, such as its label-free operation, rapid response time, high sensitivity, low limit of detection, and cost-effectiveness. The researchers also conducted various tests, including SEM imaging, to characterize the sensor's structure and performance.