ABSTRACT
Sensors are essential devices that have very important applications in various fields of modern science and technology. Many kinds of sensors have been designed and fabricated for the control and detection of gases, fluids, cells, and so on. The microscale size and the photonic bandgap properties make photonic crystals the promising basis for the realization of label-free and integrated sensors. Owing to the strong photon confinement effect of photonic crystal microcavity and line defect, ultrahigh resolution of singlemolecule level or ultrasmall volume of femtoliter level can be achieved for photonic crystal sensors. Therefore, photonic crystal sensors make possible the realization of the dream of “laboratory on a chip” [1]. Even though great progress has been made in the field of photonic crystal sensors, great efforts and penetrating research are still needed for the practical applications of photonic crystal sensors.
