Imprinted Polymer-Based Guided Mode Resonance Grating Strain Sensors

Abstract

Optical sensors based on guided mode resonance (GMR) realized in polymers are promising candidates for sensitive and cost effective strain sensors. The benefit of GMR grating sensors is the non-contact, easy optical read-out with large working distance, avoiding costly alignment and packaging procedures. The GMR gratings with resonance around 850–900 nm are fabricated using electron beam lithography and replicated using a soft stamp based imprinting technique on 175 μ m-thick foils to make them suitable for optical strain sensing. For the strain measurements, foils are realized with both GMR gratings and waveguides with Bragg gratings. The latter are used as reference sensors and allow extracting the absolute strain sensitivity of the GMR sensor foils. Following this method, it is shown that GMR gratings have an absolute strain sensitivity of 1.02 ± 0.05 pm / μ ε at 870 nm.

Polymer-Based Guided-Mode Resonance Sensors: From Optical Theories to Sensing Applications

“…To address the important application of polymer-based GMR sensors, a few studies successfully demonstrated device integration to detect the targeting molecules with refractive index changes or use them as stress sensors. It is mportant to note that to the best of our knowledge there is only one research group that demonstrated all polymer-based GMR optical sensors . Sensors that can convert digital signals into virtual information and even project them to the human–machine interface, enabling better health monitoring for life quality improvement, are known.…”

“…It is mportant to note that to the best of our knowledge there is only one research group that demonstrated all polymer-based GMR optical sensors. 81 Sensors that can convert digital signals into virtual information and even project them to the human−machine interface, enabling better health monitoring for life quality improvement, are known. The interest in monitoring human activity in proximity on a curved surface or the demand for food packaging quality control will drive the demand for a sensor with flexibility and nontoxicity.…”

“…Matellin et al 81 utilized OrmoCore (n = 1.54) and EpoCore (n = 1.58), the optical polymers from Micro Resist Technology GmbH in Berlin, Germany. These polymers were used as a grating structure over a 175 μm thickness of PET foil (n = 1.55) substrate (Hi-Fi Industrial Film Ltd. in Stevenage, UK).…”

A Review of Contemporary Microwave Antenna Sensors: Designs, Fabrication Techniques, and Potential Application

“…Strain is the most crucial physical constant for measuring material deformation [45]. Monitoring the structural stability of engineering components relies on their ability to retain their original shape.…”

A Review of Flexible Wearable Antenna Sensors: Design, Fabrication Methods, and Applications

“…In order to check the structural integrity of the engineering components, strain is among the most important mechanical properties that must be used to quantify the deformation of a material [ 38 ]. Regarding types of strains, there are two strains: shear strain and normal strain.…”