Surface plasmons, continuous and cumulative electron vibrations confined to metal-dielectric interfaces, play a pivotal role in aggregating optical fields and energies on nanostructures. This confinement exploits the intrinsic subwavelength nature of their spatial profile, significantly enhancing light-matter interactions. Metals, semiconductors, and 2D materials exhibit plasmonic resonances at diverse wavelengths, spanning from ultraviolet (UV) to far infrared, dictated by their unique properties and structures. Surface plasmons offer a platform for various light-matter interaction mechanisms, capitalizing on the orders-of-magnitude enhancement of the electromagnetic field within plasmonic structures. This enhancement has been substantiated through theoretical, computational, and experimental studies. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the plasmon-enhanced processes on metallic and metamaterial-based sensors, considering factors such as geometrical influences, resonating wavelengths, chemical properties, and computational methods. Our exploration extends to practical applications, encompassing localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-based planar waveguides, polymer-based biochip sensors, and LSPR-based fiber sensors. Ultimately, we aim to provide insights and guidelines for the development of next-generation, high-performance plasmonic technological devices.
Keywords: hybrid nanostructures; localized surface plasmon resonance; microfluidic channels; nano-structured sensors; plasmonics; polymer-based sensors; sensitivity; single/paired nanoparticles; stacked sensors; surface plasmon resonance.