Honeycomb Metal Microstructure for Trace Analyte Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensor technologies face challenges in detecting trace amounts of analytes, such as viruses, due to insufficient electric field enhancement, which limits the detection sensitivity and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A sensor substrate with a metal microstructure featuring a honeycomb pattern of hexagonal protrusions is used, where the gaps between protrusions are designed to enhance electric field enhancement and facilitate analyte detection, comprising a resin substrate with a metal film forming the protrusions, optimized for improved surface plasmon generation and fluorescence detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional sensor structures are used, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision is insufficient for trace analyte detection
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor substrate is divided into multiple unit structures, each comprising a metal protrusion with a gap at its base. This segmentation creates multiple localized surface plasmon resonance sites across the substrate, increasing the overall detection sensitivity while maintaining a relatively simple unit design that can be replicated
Solution Approach 2:
The gap structure is strategically positioned only at the base of each metal protrusion rather than uniformly across the entire structure. This local modification concentrates the electric field enhancement effect at the gap region where analyte binding occurs, maximizing detection sensitivity without requiring complex modifications throughout the entire sensor structure
2Measurement precision
If the gap between metal protrusions is reduced to enhance electric field, then the measurement precision improves, but the analyte adsorption probability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The gap is positioned specifically at the base of the metal protrusion, creating a localized region of high electric field enhancement. This local gap structure allows the analyte to be adsorbed at the protrusion tip while the electric field enhancement occurs at the base, separating the adsorption and field enhancement functions to resolve the contradiction
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from considering only the horizontal gap distance between protrusions to incorporating the vertical dimension by positioning the gap at the base of the protrusion. This three-dimensional arrangement allows the analyte to access the protrusion tip from the sample solution while the electric field enhancement occurs at the base gap, effectively resolving the trade-off between gap size and analyte accessibility
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly enhances detection sensitivity, allowing for the accurate detection of trace amounts of analytes, including viruses, by maximizing electric field enhancement and fluorescence intensity.
Implementation Method 1
a metal microstructure for generating surface plasmon when irradiated with excitation light
Implementation Method 2
an amount of the analyte can be detected by measuring an amount of fluorescence generated from the fluorescent substance of the labeled antibody present in the enhanced photoelectric field
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a sensor substrate capable of detecting a trace amount of an analyte. This sensor substrate according to the present disclosure is a sensor substrate comprising a metal microstructure that generates surface plasmon when irradiated with excitation light. The metal microstructure is composed of a plurality of protrusions disposed in a planar shape. The plurality of the protrusions are disposed in such a manner that imaginary lines V each passing through a center between adjacent protrusions draw a honeycomb shape in a plan view. Each of the plurality of the protrusions has a substantially hexagonal shape in the plan view. A depth in a thickness direction of the sensor substrate of a gap present between the adjacent protrusions is larger than a radius of an imaginary circle inscribed in a hexagon forming the honeycomb shape.