Graphene biosensor design based on glass substrate for forensic detection of illicit drugs

This manuscript presents the development and analysis of a highly sensitive surface plasmonic biosensor tailored for forensic applications, with a specific focus on the precise identification of illegal drugs. The sensor employs a synergistic combination of graphene, glass(fused silica), and gold as fundamental building materials, harnessing their unique properties to enhance detection capabilities. By integrating glass as the substrate, the sensor benefits from its excellent transparency, mechanical stability, and chemical inertness. This provides a solid foundation for the graphene layer, allowing for precise and reliable sensing interactions. A comparative evaluation with existing technologies highlights the sensor's competitive edge in terms of both sensitivity and accuracy. The application of glass as the substrate plays a pivotal role in providing a robust platform for the graphene layer, thereby contributing significantly to the sensor's overall performance and applicability in forensic scenarios. The proposed sensor demonstrates remarkable sensitivity, achieving a maximum relative sensitivity of 4889 GHz/RIU enabling the detection of even the slightest shifts in refractive index-a crucial aspect in the identification of illicit drugs. The sensor's wide range of FOM values, ranging from 15.138 to 54.932 RIU-1, further highlights its adaptability across a diverse spectrum of refractive index measurements.