Natural Slab Photonic Crystals as Biogenic, Customizable Nanomaterial for Label-Free Detection.

ABSTRACT: Photonic band gap-based sensors can detect small variations in the refractive index of surrounding media, facilitating the precise detection of changes in their environment. In this proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate that biosilica produced by single-cell microalgae called diatoms can work as a photonic crystal slab sensor. We exploited the pseudo photonic bandgap (pseudo-PBG) produced by the highly periodic nanoscale morphology to detect the presence of relevant chemical elements in solutions. We demonstrate that the pseudo-PBG of the natural system can be calibrated for refractive index changes in the environment using standard liquids. Subsequently, we demonstrate that the platform enables precise detection of minute refractive index variations, accurate to the second decimal place,

SUBMITTER: Goessling JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12039964 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature