Rapid analysis of a doxycycline hydrochloride solution by metallic mesh device-based reflection terahertz spectroscopy.

Abstract

Terahertz (THz) spectroscopy has the advantages of non-ionization and spectroscopic fingerprint, which can be used for biological and chemical compound analysis. However, because of the strong absorption of water in the THz region, it is still a challenge for THz waves to realize aqueous solution detection. In this study, taking a doxycycline hydrochloride (DCH) aqueous solution as the target, we proposed a THz metallic mesh device (MMD) based reflection platform for the first time for sensing. The angle characteristics of the THz MMD was investigated through numerical simulations and experimental measurements to get an optimized configuration for the platform. When the projection of THz electric field polarization onto the MMD plane gets parallel to latitudinal direction of the MMD apertures, a strong resonant surface mode can be achieved, and our proposed platform can be successfully used to detect the DCH solution with a concentration as low as 1 mg L-1. The sensing mechanism of our platform was also explored by analyzing the influences of the immersion depth into the MMD holes and the extinction coefficient of droplets on the reflection spectra. Our work presents a rapid, low-cost, and practical platform for antibiotic solution sensing using THz radiation, which opens new avenues for the microanalysis of chemicals or biomolecules in strongly absorptive solutions in the THz region.