Responsive refractive index sensor based on actively tuning liquid crystal topological edge states

In this paper, using the electric field regulation and low loss properties of liquid crystal materials, a tunable polarization-separated liquid crystal (LC) topological edge state is proposed, whose potential in responsive sensors (RSs) is explored. Adjustment of the measuring range and sensitivity of the RS can be realized by controlling the orientation angle of LC and the analyte proportion. In the case of a low ratio of analytes, as the LC orientation angle changes from 18° to 0°, the measurement range will also vary from 1–1.8 RIU (refractive index unit) to 1.8–2.3 RIU. When adding the proportion of analytes and the number of periods, the normalized sensitivity will be increased from 0.0759 c/d/RIU (c is the propagation speed of light in vacuum, and d is the normalized thickness) to 0.299 c/d/RIU, leading to a reduction in the detection limit from 2.75 × 10−4 to 5 × 10−6 RIU, so biological indicators such as bacteria Leptospira in rodent urine can be detected.