Design and application of terahertz metamaterial sensor based on bull’s-eye-shaped resonator in detection of hexadecane

Abstract

Hexadecane, as a kind of typical nonpolar molecule, plays a crucial role in the preparation of reverse micellar solutions, which have been proved to be a suitable tool to overcome water absorption in THz region. In this work, a bull’s-eye-shaped metamaterial sensor is designed, fabricated and used to detect hexadecane by using terahertz spectroscopy. The refraction index and the thickness of the analyte deposited on the resonator were analyzed and discussed by simulating. Then we test whether the combination of the sensor with hexadecane could improve the sensitivity, and verify the sensing properties of the bull's-eye-shaped metamaterial, achieving a frequency shift of approximately 0.14 THz. This approach paves the way for future quantitative detection and qualitative identification of cells or other hydrated substances, offering a neoteric pathway in sensing field.