Porous TiO₂ thin films deposited by glancing angle deposition are used as sensing layers to monitor their sensing capabilities towards Volatile Organic Compounds both in a standard Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensor and in Magneto-Optical Surface Plasmon Resonance (MO-SPR) configuration in order to compare their sensing performances. Here our results on the enhanced sensing capability of these TiO₂ functionalized MO-SPR sensors with Au/Co/Au transducers with respect to traditional SPR gas sensors are presented.

Metallic nanostructures supporting Localized Surface Plasmon Resonances (LSPR) are characterized by their unique ability to control and manipulate light at the nanoscale. Noble metal nanostructures, such as gold nanostructures, are demonstrating to exhibit magneto-optic activity in the presence of modulated magnetic field of low intensity in transversal configuration (T-MOKE). Validation of experimental findings was achieved by numerical simulations based on Finite Element Method (FEM) techniques. The developed numerical models allowed studying the combination of the T-MOKE effect with the localized surface plasmon resonance of metal nanoparticles. Numerical optical and magneto-optical spectra provided a deep insight on the physical aspects behind the magneto-optical activity of metal nanostructures strictly related to direction of oscillations electrical dipoles generated in resonance conditions. Additionally the MO signal was characterized as a transducing signal for refractive index sensing in liquid conditions. The outcome is an increase in the limit of detection of magneto optical transducer with respect to traditional plasmonic sensors. A new strategy for magneto-plasmonic sensing based on the use of glass supported -Au nanostructures based on their MO properties has put forward.