Improved Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensing Sensitivity due to an Electrochemically Potential-Induced Gold Reconstruction

The progressively improved sensing sensitivity (Delta lambda(SPR)/Delta n, nm/RIU) to detect the refractive index is observed on the SPR platform of an Au-covered epoxy gratings in an increase in potential cycling in a typical three-electrode cell. Here, a DVD-R optical disc was used as a structure template to prepare an Au-covered epoxy gratings, and the newly formed reverse track pitch structure on the epoxy substrate was used as a working electrode directly in aqueous sulfuric acid solution. It is expected that Au reconstruction by potential cycling in sulfuric acid electrolyte increases the packing density of Au atoms in the grain boundary and improves the propagation of electromagnetic waves.