Breakthrough in Nanoporous Technology Offers High-Sensitivity Sensing Applications

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made a significant discovery in the field of nanoporous technology. By investigating the optical properties of nanoporous silica substrates and silicon dimer structures, they have demonstrated a new strategy for developing high-performance refractive index sensors. The study, published in Scientific Reports, highlights the potential of nanoporous materials for optical sensing, revealing high refractive index sensitivity and exceptional figure of merit values.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research found that bound states in the continuum, a unique optical phenomenon, offer great potential for high-sensitivity sensing applications.
  • The nanoporous silica substrates and silicon dimer structures with varying porosity percentages demonstrated enhanced optical properties, including high refractive index sensitivity and exceptional figure of merit values.
  • The study showed that the combined architecture of nanoporous silica and silicon dimer structures achieves superior performance in refractive index sensing.
  • The research concluded that the nanoporous medium structure design presented offers a new strategy for developing high-performance refractive index sensors.
  • The scientists highlighted the potential of nanoporous materials for optical sensing, providing valuable theoretical and technical support for practical sensor design.
  • The study was conducted at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
  • The research involved a team of scientists, including Ruochen Xin, Wenjing Ding, Deng Yang, Gang Wang, Junhua Gao, Hongtao Cao, and Shiwei Tang.

Statistics:

  • The researchers demonstrated a refractive index sensitivity of [Formula: see text] and an exceptionally high figure of merit of [Formula: see text].
  • The study showed that the lower refractive index of the nanoporous silica substrates accelerates the decay of localized quasi-bound states in the continuum evanescent modes into the substrate.
  • The research highlighted the potential benefits of the nanoporous medium structure design, including increased local field intensity.
  • The study was published in Scientific Reports, a peer-reviewed journal, and is available online at Nature Portfolio.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Research Conducted at Chinese Academy of Sciences Has Provided New Information about Nanoporous (Nanoporous-structured metasurface refractive index sensor employing quasi-bound states in the continuum). Nanotechnology Weekly. October 27, 2025; p 1306.
  • Xin, R., Ding, W., Yang, D., Wang, G., Gao, J., Cao, H., & Tang, S. (2025). Nanoporous-structured metasurface refractive index sensor employing quasi-bound states in the continuum. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 36245.