Spectroscopic Imaging Technology for THz Biosensor Integrated with a Lab-on-Chip Platform

In the Phase I CBD SBIR project, Vibratess proposed and confirmed a new imaging mechanism for subwavelength THz spectroscopy based on very strong enhancement of electromagnetic field of THz radiation at the edges of periodic semiconductor structure. The technology to fabricate an integrated miniature detector assembly (with a Schottky diode, a circuit and a nano-size antenna to probe radiation transmitted through tested material), a periodic structure and a microfluidic cell was successfully demonstrated. In the Phase II, a new imaging mechanism will be used to develop and fabricate a complete working prototype of THz spectroscopic sensor system. We plan to build a simple, all optical, appertureless, sub-wavelength transmission THz sensor with the spatial resolution much below the diffraction limit. Two central components of a proposed sensor, including microdetector assembly and microfluidic channel chip for a biomaterial will be integrated with a THz source through the optical focusing system and read-out circuitry. The major breakthrough of this work will be development and fabrication of inexpensive microfluidic chip integrated with a thin film grating to dramatically enhance sensitivity and spatial resolution. The sensor integrated with a “lab-on-a chip” device for sub-wavelength THz spectroscopic imaging within the 10-25 cm-1 spectral range will be capable to collect THz-frequency spectroscopic signatures from microscopic biological structures.