Micro/Nanofiber with Hollow Silica Nanoparticles Thin-Film for Airborne Molecular Contaminants Real-Time Sensing

Abstract

A novel chemical sensing approach detecting airborne molecular contaminants (AMCs) or compounds is demonstrated by using single-mode optical microfibre (OMF) coated with hollow silica nanoparticles (HSNs). The concentration of AMCs, which were volatilized on the surface of the tapered microfibre coated with HSNs, influences the transmission loss of the microfibre. Tapered OMF was fabricated using a high-precision electrically controlled setup, and coatings of HSNs were prepared by meniscus coating method. The transmission loss of three OMFs with different diameters and the same thick coating were tested to determine the relationship between AMC concentrations and transmission loss of coated OMFs. Experimental results showed that the transmission loss increases with increasing concentration of AMCs. The sensitivity for volatile simethicone was 0.0263 dB/mg/m3 obtained by the coated OMF with diameter of 2.5 μm, and the sensitivity values of coated OMF with diameters of 5 μm and 6 μm were 0.0024 and 0.0018 dB/mg/m3, respectively. Thus the proposed coated OMF can be used in enclosed space for AMCs sensing.

Novel Organochlorinated Xerogels: From Microporous Materials to Ordered Domains

“…Organically modified silicates (ORMOSILs) are hybrid silicon xerogels that combine the mechanical, thermal, and structural rigidity and stability of inorganic materials with the flexibility and functionality of organic molecules [ 1 ]. These properties favor their utilization as chemical and optical sensors [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ], catalysts [ 8 , 9 ], coatings [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], chromatographic agents [ 15 , 16 ], nanoprobes, and photovoltaic cells [ 17 , 18 ], among others.…”

Characterization of an airborne organic contaminant sensor based on microfibers with sol–gel film

“…Based on the strong confinement ability and evanescent field characteristics of micro-nano optical fibers (MNOFs) [22,23], a new method of molecular organic contaminant sensor using a micronano optical fiber with surface microstructures was proposed [24]. We have developed many kinds of microstructures to improve the sensing sensitivity of MNOFs and to realize the monitoring of airborne organic contaminations in a vacuum environment [25][26][27]. However, although the amount of molecular organic contaminants on the surface of optics within the sol-gel film is closely related to the amount of airborne organic contaminations in the same environment, there are also significant differences.…”