Development of a localised surface plasmon resonance sensor based on gold nanoparticles

A versatile optical sensor which utilizes localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) on gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) was developed and investigated. Gold nanoparticles in various size and distribution were generated by thermally annealing gold thin films (15–30 nm) which were sputtered on glass substrate. A measurement setup consisting of a microfluidic cell and an optical spectrophotometer was constructed to measure the surface plasmon resonance spectra of the gold nanoparticles in different media. The possible application of the nanoparticles as sensors (e.g. gas sensor, chemical sensor, biosensor) was investigated.