Design of bio-alcohol sensor based on waveguide-coupled photonic crystal cavity

Abstract

Detection of bio-alcohol is crucial in diverse industries, including forensics, medicine, and food production. This paper presents a novel biosensor for bio-alcohol detection in water, integrating three micro-cavities with two waveguides within a hexagonal photonic crystal array. Employing a wavelength interrogation approach and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations, the proposed biosensor demonstrates a high sensitivity of 610 nm/RIU (nanometers per refractive index unit) and a low detection limit of 7×10-3 RIU. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of this photonic crystal biosensor for detecting organic substances in water, showcasing its potential for practical applications.