All-nanoparticle layer-by-layer coatings for Mid-IR on-chip gas sensing

Husseini, Diana Al; Zhou, Junchao; Willhelm, Daniel; Hastings, Trevor; Day, Gregory S.; Zhou, Hong‐Cai; Coté, Gerard L.; Qian, Xiaofeng; Gutierrez‐Osuna, Ricardo; Lin, Pao Tai; Sukhishvili, Svetlana A.

doi:10.1039/d0cc05513a

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…These results suggest that our polar MSN surfaces were more efficient in concentrating polar compounds (ethanol) versus non-polar compounds (methane) but did enhance the sensitivity of both gases relative to the bare waveguide at their absorption wavelength maximums. In comparison to our prior work [20], MSNs surpasses the performance of spherical solid nanoparticles utilized for polar vapors (such as acetone) in terms of stability of the measurements and enhancement factor. This can be explained by the fact that MSNs are characterized with high porosity, which enhances polar gas adsorption to the surface.…”

Section: Detection Of Ethanol Vapor and Methane Gas Using Functionalized A-si Waveguidesmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…However, the use of organic/polymeric coatings to detect gases other than CO 2 , such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), remains challenging because organic coatings have similar functional groups to those in VOCs resulting in a spectral overlap. In our recent work, we developed submicron all-nanoparticle coatings for MIR on-chip detection of acetone vapors [20]. The use of inorganic particles rather than polymers in the coating was a promising solution because it overcame the previous shortcomings by having a wide MIR range transparency and a high surface area to volume ratio enabling the concentration of gaseous biomarkers at the vicinity of the EF [20,21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In our recent work, we developed submicron all-nanoparticle coatings for MIR on-chip detection of acetone vapors [20]. The use of inorganic particles rather than polymers in the coating was a promising solution because it overcame the previous shortcomings by having a wide MIR range transparency and a high surface area to volume ratio enabling the concentration of gaseous biomarkers at the vicinity of the EF [20,21]. The coating deposition was enabled by the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique, which provided good substrate adhesion and precise control over film thickness and composition as compared to other coating techniques such as drop-casting, spin-coating and spray-coating [22][23][24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Surface Functionalization Utilizing Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced Evanescent-Field Mid-Infrared Waveguide Gas Sensing

et al. 2021

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This work focuses on the development of nanoparticle-based layer-by-layer (LbL) coatings for enhancing the detection sensitivity and selectivity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using on-chip mid-infrared (MIR) waveguides (WGs). First, we demonstrate construction of conformal coatings of polymer/mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) on the surface of Si-based WGs using the LbL technique and evaluate the coating deposition conditions, such as pH and substrate withdrawal speed, on the thickness and homogeneity of the assemblies. We then use the modified WGs to achieve enhanced sensitivity and selectivity of polar organic compounds, such as ethanol, versus non-polar ones, such as methane, in the MIR region. In addition, using density functional theory calculations, we show that such an improvement in sensing performance is achieved due to preferential adsorption of ethanol molecules within MSNs in the vicinity of the WG evanescent field.

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Section: Detection Of Ethanol Vapor and Methane Gas Using Functionalized A-si Waveguidesmentioning

confidence: 73%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Surface Functionalization Utilizing Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced Evanescent-Field Mid-Infrared Waveguide Gas Sensing

et al. 2021

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“…Note that significant methane detection could not be attained using unmodified coatings, as shown experimentally and theoretically in our previous work due to the polar nature of the MSN coatings. [ 21,22 ] Additionally, the chosen conditions for the nanocoatings were further confirmed using the mode intensity of the MIR light passing through the WG. As shown in Figure S5, Supporting Information, 1 h of treatment produces sufficient intensity; however, when the number of bilayers is >3, the mode intensity significantly drops.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Silane‐Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanocoatings for Selective Mid‐Infrared Waveguide‐Based Gas Sensing

Husseini

Zhou

et al. 2022

Adv Materials Inter

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This paper reports the use of silane monolayers of different polarities to enable recognition and selective interfacial enrichment of nonpolar versus polar gases for spectroscopic mid‐infrared (MIR) on‐chip sensing. However, detection of gases using on‐chip waveguides (WGs) is challenging because of the low concentrations of gas molecules within the evanescent field surrounding the WGs. To solve this issue, high‐surface‐area, precisely‐controlled‐thickness nanocoatings are introduced whose surface modification with strategically selected silanes enables control of preferential adsorption and concentration of polar versus nonpolar gas analytes. Conformal nanocoatings are constructed using layer‐by‐layer deposition of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) at substrate withdrawal speeds controlled within the capillary regime. Surface modification of the WG‐immobilized MSNs with hydrophobic triethoxy(octyl)silane enables, for the first time, enhanced sensitivity and selectivity towards nonpolar methane gas as compared to its polar counterpart acetone. On the other hand, modification of the nanocoatings with (3‐aminopropyl)triethoxysilane leads to preferential binding of polar acetone vapors. This work demonstrates the capability of interfacial modification for controlling the selection and enhancement of the spectroscopic features of gas analytes with different polarities. The developed interfacial assemblies can enable diverse spectroscopic gas sensing platforms for applications in health diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and process control.

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“…We expect that these advancements can enhance sensitivity by 500 ×, bringing it closer to that of MOS sensors, which achieve sub ppm levels, while still providing the advantage of better specificity. Thus, the potential for enhancement of sensitivity of waveguide-based sensing, taken together with intrinsically high, spectroscopic selectivity of mid-IR detection 43 make this approach promising for future sensing applications of multiple gaseous analytes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of volatile organic compounds using mid-infrared silicon nitride waveguide sensors

Zhou

Husseini

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Mid-infrared (mid-IR) sensors consisting of silicon nitride (SiN) waveguides were designed and tested to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs). SiN thin films, prepared by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), have a broad mid-IR transparent region and a lower refractive index (nSiN = 2.0) than conventional materials such as Si (nSi = 3.4), which leads to a stronger evanescent wave and therefore higher sensitivity, as confirmed by a finite-difference eigenmode (FDE) calculation. Further, in-situ monitoring of three VOCs (acetone, ethanol, and isoprene) was experimentally demonstrated through characteristic absorption measurements at wavelengths λ = 3.0–3.6 μm. The SiN waveguide showed a five-fold sensitivity improvement over the Si waveguide due to its stronger evanescent field. To our knowledge, this is the first time SiN waveguides are used to perform on-chip mid-IR spectral measurements for VOC detection. Thus, the developed waveguide sensor has the potential to be used as a compact device module capable of monitoring multiple gaseous analytes for health, agricultural and environmental applications.

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All-nanoparticle layer-by-layer coatings for Mid-IR on-chip gas sensing

Abstract: Functionalization of optical waveguides with submicron coatings of zinc peroxide (ZnO2) and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) is reported that enabled selective concentration of acetone vapors in the vicinity of the...

Cited by 5 publications

References 34 publications

Surface Functionalization Utilizing Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced Evanescent-Field Mid-Infrared Waveguide Gas Sensing

Surface Functionalization Utilizing Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced Evanescent-Field Mid-Infrared Waveguide Gas Sensing

Silane‐Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanocoatings for Selective Mid‐Infrared Waveguide‐Based Gas Sensing

Detection of volatile organic compounds using mid-infrared silicon nitride waveguide sensors

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