Optofluidic photonic crystals for biomolecular fluorescence enhancement: a bottom-up approach for fabricating GaN-based biosensors

R. P. Tompkins; J. M. Dawson; L. A. Hornak; T. H. Myers

doi:10.1117/12.794925

25 August 2008 Optofluidic photonic crystals for biomolecular fluorescence enhancement: a bottom-up approach for fabricating GaN-based biosensors

R. P. Tompkins, J. M. Dawson, L. A. Hornak, T. H. Myers

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7056, Photonic Fiber and Crystal Devices: Advances in Materials and Innovations in Device Applications II; 70560J (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.794925
Event: Photonic Devices + Applications, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The application of photonic crystals in biosensor applications has lead to the development of highly sensitive and selective sensor elements. The research efforts undertaken by this group have led to the development of a photonic crystal transducer that acts as a waveguide, nanofluidic flow channel, and resonant defect cavity. This sensor architecture shows promise for greatly enhancing the emission of naturally fluorescent or fluorescently-labeled biomolecules. Due to its transparency in the visible regime, GaN is a viable candidate for this photonic crystal biosensor application. This paper provides an overview of the sensor architecture as well as a discussion of one particular bottom-up approach to its fabrication. Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) growth of heavily Mg doped GaN can result in inversion of the surface polarity from Ga-polar to N-polar GaN. This bottom-up approach includes patterning and etching of the Mg inversion layer, followed by re-growth of the opposite polarity to produce periodically poled GaN. Subsequent wet etching of N-polar regions then produces a GaN based photonic crystal structure. This process shows promise for achieving high aspect ratio, highly anisotropic nanostructures.

Citation Download Citation

R. P. Tompkins, J. M. Dawson, L. A. Hornak, and T. H. Myers "Optofluidic photonic crystals for biomolecular fluorescence enhancement: a bottom-up approach for fabricating GaN-based biosensors", Proc. SPIE 7056, Photonic Fiber and Crystal Devices: Advances in Materials and Innovations in Device Applications II, 70560J (25 August 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.794925

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