Using Silicon Photonic Components as Highly Sensitive Biosensors

Sharon M. Weiss
Vanderbilt University

Friday, January 29, 2010 at 2:00pm
Engr IV Maxwell Room 57-124

Abstract
The importance of silicon photonic devices extends beyond structures for light guiding and light emission. Nano- and micro-structured silicon photonic devices have emerged as viable gas, chemical, and biological sensors. While early silicon-based sensing devices were based on bulk silicon properties, more recent devices take advantage of the unique properties of nanostructured silicon-based devices. This talk highlights advances in various silicon photonic structures for biosensing applications, with a particular focus on porous silicon waveguides and diffraction gratings. The advantages of silicon-based optical biosensors for high sensitivity detection with a low analyte volume requirement, reduced size, compatibility with existing CMOS technology, and, in some cases, a significantly larger surface area will be discussed.

Biography
Sharon M. Weiss graduated with B.S. ('99), M.S. ('01), and Ph.D. ('05) degrees in Optics from the University of Rochester. Dr. Weiss is currently an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and an Assistant Professor of Physics at Vanderbilt University. Her research is focused primarily on silicon-based biosensing with resonant structures and white-light emission from encapsulated CdSe nanocrystals. Dr. Weiss has over 40 publications and 1 patent. She is the recipient of a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award, an Army Research Office Young Investigator Program award, and a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).