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For the purpose of detecting waterborne bacteria, a high-phase-sensitivity SPR sensor with an Ag–TiO2–Franckeite–WS2 hybrid structure is designed using an improved seeker optimization algorithm (ISOA). By optimizing each layer of sensor construction simultaneously, the ISOA guarantees a minimum reflectance of less than 0.01 by Ag (20.36 nm)–TiO2 (6.08 nm)–Franckeite (monolayer)–WS2 (bilayer) after 30 iterations for E. coli. And the optimal phase sensitivity is 2.378 × 106 deg/RIU. Sensor performance and computing efficiency have been greatly enhanced using the ISOA in comparison to the traditional layer-by-layer technique and the SOA method. This will enable sensors to detect a wider range of bacteria with more efficacy. As a result, the ISOA-based design idea could provide SPR biosensors with new applications in environmental monitoring.

A differential evolution particle swarm optimization (DEPSO) is presented for the design of a high-phase-sensitivity surface plasmon resonance (SPR) gas sensor. The gas sensor is based on a bilayer metal film with a hybrid structure of blue phosphorene (BlueP)/transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and MXene. Initially, a Ag-BlueP/TMDCs-Ag-MXene heterostructure is designed, and its performance is compared with that of the conventional layer-by-layer method and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The results indicate that optimizing the thickness of the layers in the gas sensor promotes phase sensitivity. Specifically, the phase sensitivity of the DEPSO is significantly higher than that of the PSO and the conventional method, while maintaining a lower reflectivity. The maximum phase sensitivity achieved is 1.866 × 106 deg/RIU with three layers of BlueP/WS2 and a monolayer of MXene. The distribution of the electric field is also illustrated, demonstrating that the optimized configuration allows for better detection of various gases. Due to its highly sensitive characteristics, the proposed design method based on the DEPSO can be applied to SPR gas sensors for environmental monitoring.

Automobile exhaust gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and propane (C3H8), cause the greenhouse effect, photochemical smog, and haze, threatening the urban atmosphere and human health. In this study, a non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) multi-gas detection system consisting of a single broadband light source, gas cell, and four-channel pyroelectric detector was developed. The system can be used to economically detect gas concentration in the range of 0–5000 ppm for C3H8, 0–14% for CO, and 0–20% for CO2. According to the experimental data, the concentration inversion model was established using the least squares between the voltage ratio and the concentration. Additionally, the interference coefficient between different gases was tested. Therefore, the interference models between the three gases were established by the least square method. The concentration inversion model was experimentally verified, and it was observed that the full-scale error of the sensor changed less than 3.5%, the detection repeatability error was lower than 4.5%, and the detection stability was less than 2.7%. Therefore, the detection system is economical and energy efficient and it is a promising method for the analysis of automobile exhaust gases.