Fluorescence Hydrogen Peroxide Probe Based on a Microstructured Polymer Optical Fiber Modified with a Titanium Dioxide Film

A highly sensitive microstructured polymer optical fiber (MPOF) probe for hydrogen peroxide was made by forming a rhodamine 6G-doped titanium dioxide film on the side walls of array holes in an MPOF. It was found that hydrogen peroxide only has a response to the MPOF probe in a certain concentration of potassium iodide in sulfuric acid solution. The calibration graph of fluorescence intensity versus hydrogen peroxide concentration is linear in the range of 1.6 x 10(-7) mol/L to 9.6 x 10(-5) mol/L. The method, with high sensitivity and a wide linear range, has been applied to the determination of trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide in a few real samples, such as rain water and contact lens disinfectant, with satisfactory results.

Cellulose acetate polymer film modified microstructured polymer optical fiber towards a nitrite optical probe

A novel microstructured polymer optical fiber (MPOF) probe for nitrites (NO(2)(-)) detection was made by forming rhodamine 6G (Rh 6G)-doped cellulose acetate (CA) on the side wall of array holes in a MPOF It was found that the MPOF probe only have a response to nitrites in a certain concentration of sulfuric acid solution The calibration graph of fluorescence intensity versus nitrites concentration was linear in the range of 2.0 x 10(-4) g/ml-5.0 x 10(-3) g/ml. The method possesses case of chemical modification, low cost design, and potential for direct integration with existing instrumentation, and has been applied to the determination of nitrites in real samples with satisfactory results. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Linear and nonlinear optical properties of the PbSe quantum dots doped germane-silica glass optical fiber

We report development of a new fiber doped with PbSe quantum dots for nonlinear optical applications. PbSe quantum dots related absorption peaks were obtained at 1021, 1093 and 1351 nm. The resonant optical nonlinearity and attenuation at 1500 nm were measured to be 9.4 × 10−16 m2/W and 0.01 dB/m, respectively. The emission around 1540 nm was observed upon near resonant pumping at 1064 nm.

Light-emitting-diode-induced fluorescence detector for capillary electrophoresis using optical fiber with spherical end

A simple fluorescence detector for capillary electrophoresis (CE) using a blue light-emitting-diode (LED) as excitation source is constructed and evaluated. An optical fiber was used to collect the fluorescence, and a flat end of the fiber was modified to spherical end, resulting in 50% increase of efficiency over the flat end. A simple device for optical alignment of the fibers and capillary column was designed. The concentration and mass detection limits for fluorescein were 1.8 x 10(-7) Mol l(-1) and 4.3 femol, respectively. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

A novel flow through optical fiber biosensor for glucose based on luminol electrochemiluminescence

A novel flow injection optical fiber biosensor for glucose based on luminol electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is presented. The sol-gel method is introduced to immobilize glucose oxidase (GOD) on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode. After optimization of the working conditions, glucose could be quantitated in the concentration ranges between 50 muM and 10 mM with a detection limit of around 26 muM. Signal reproducibility was about 3.62% relative standard deviation for 11 replicated measurements of 0.1 mM glucose. The ECL biosensor also showed good selectivity and operational stability. The proposed method can be applied to determination of glucose in soft drink samples.

Electrochemiluminescent determination of glucose with a sol-gel derived ceramic-carbon composite electrode as a renewable optical fiber biosensor

A sol-gel derived ceramic-carbon composite electrode is used for fabrication of a new type of optical fiber biosensor based on luminol electrochemiluminescence (ECL). The electrode consists of graphite powder impregnated with glucose oxidase in a silicate network. In this configuration, the immobilized enzyme oxidizes glucose to liberate hydrogen peroxide and graphite powder provides percolation conductivity for triggering the ECL between luminol and the liberated hydrogen peroxide. Both of the reactions occur simultaneously on the surface of the composite electrode, thereby the response of the biosensor is very fast. The peak intensity was achieved within only 20 s after glucose injection. In addition, the electrode could be renewed by a simple mechanical polishing step in case of contamination or fouling. The linear range extends from 0.01 to 10 mM for glucose and the detection limit is about 8.16 muM. The renewal repeatability and stability of the biosensor are also investigated in detail.

A chemiluminescence optical fiber glucose biosensor based on co-immobilizing glucose oxidase and horseradish peroxidase in a sol-gel film

An optical fiber bienzyme sensor based on the luminol chemiluminescent reaction was developed and demonstrated to be sensitive to glucose. Glucose oxidase (GOD) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were co-immobilized by microencapsulation in a sol-gel film derived from tetraethyl orthosilicate(TEOS). The calibration plots for glucose were established by the optical fiber glucose sensor fabricated by attaching the bienzyme silica gel onto the glass window of the fiber bundle. The linear range was 0.2-2 mmol/L and the detection limit was approximately 0.12 mmol/L. The relative standard deviation was 5.3% (n = 6). The proposed biosensor was applied to glucose assay in ofloxacin injection successfully.

Mechanism of motion of an optical fiber aligned by a solder droplet

Solder is often used as an adhesive to attach optical fibers to a circuit board. In this proceeding we will discuss efforts to model the motion of an optical fiber during the wetting and solidification of the adhesive solder droplet. The extent of motion is determined by several competing forces, during three “stages” of solder joint formation. First, capillary forces of the liquid phase control the fiber position. Second, during solidification, the presence of the liquid-solid-vapor triple line as well as a reduced liquid solder volume leads to a change in the net capillary force on the optical fiber. Finally, the solidification front itself impinges on the fiber. Publicly-available finite element models are used to calculate the time-dependent position of the solidification front and shape of the free surface.

Optical Fiber Sensing Based on Reflection Laser Spectroscopy

An overview on high-resolution and fast interrogation of optical-fiber sensors relying on laser reflection spectroscopy is given. Fiber Bragg-gratings (FBGs) and FBG resonators built in fibers of different types are used for strain, temperature and acceleration measurements using heterodyne-detection and optical frequency-locking techniques. Silica fiber-ring cavities are used for chemical sensing based on evanescent-wave spectroscopy. Various arrangements for signal recovery and noise reduction, as an extension of most typical spectroscopic techniques, are illustrated and results on detection performances are presented.

Optical Fiber Refractive Index Sensor for Chloride Ion Monitoring

The development of a reflective, gold-coated long-period grating-based sensor for the measurement of chloride ions in solution is discussed. The sensor scheme is based around a long-period fiber grating (LPG)-based Michelson interferometer where the sensor was calibrated and evaluated in the laboratory using sodium chloride solutions, over a wide range of concentrations, from 0.01 to 4.00 M. The grating response creates shifts in the spectral characteristic of the interferometer, formed using the LPG and a reflective surface on the distal end of the fiber, due to the change of refracting index of the solution surrounding it. It was found that the sensitivity of the device could be enhanced over that obtained from a bare fiber by coating the LPG-based interferometer with gold nanoparticles and the results of a cross-comparison of performance were obtained and details discussed. The approach will be explored as a basis to create a portable, low-power device, developed with the potential for installation in concrete structures to determine the ingress of chloride ions, operating through monitoring the refractive index change.

A novel method of embedding distributed optical fiber sensor for structural health monitoring

A distributed optical fiber sensor based on Brillouin scattering (BOTDR or BOTDA) can measure and monitor strain and temperature generated along optical fiber. Because it can measure in real-time with high precision and stability, it is quite suitable for health monitoring of large-scale civil infrastructures. However, the main challenge of applying it to structural health monitoring is to ensure it is robust and can be repaired by adopting a suitable embedding method. In this paper, a novel method based on air-blowing and vacuum grouting techniques for embedding long-distance optical fiber sensors was developed. This method had no interference with normal concrete construction during its installation, and it could easily replace the long-distance embedded optical fiber sensor (LEOFS). Two stages of static loading tests were applied to investigate the performance of the LEOFS. The precision and the repeatability of the LEOFS were studied through an overloading test. The durability and the stability of the LEOFS were confirmed by a corrosion test. The strains of the LEOFS were used to evaluate the reinforcing effect of carbon fiber reinforced polymer and thereby the health state of the beams.

Building Stone Condition Monitoring Using Specially Designed Compensated Optical Fiber Humidity Sensors

This paper presents the design and implementation of a novel optical fiber temperature compensated relative humidity (RH) sensor device, based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and developed specifically for monitoring water ingress leading to the deterioration of building stone. The performance of the sensor thus created, together with that of conventional sensors, was first assessed in the laboratory where they were characterized under experimental conditions of controlled wetting and drying cycles of limestone blocks, before being employed “in-the-field” to monitor actual building stone in a specially built wall. Although a new construction, this was built specifically using conservation methods similar to those employed in past centuries, to allow an accurate simulation of processes occurring with wetting and drying in the historic walls in the University of Oxford.

Optical fiber sensing using quantum dots

Recent advances in the application of semiconductor nanocrystals, or quantum dots, as biochemical sensors are reviewed. Quantum dots have unique optical properties that make them promising alternatives to traditional dyes in many luminescence based bioanalytical techniques. An overview of the more relevant progresses in the application of quantum dots as biochemical probes is addressed. Special focus will be given to configurations where the sensing dots are incorporated in solid membranes and immobilized in optical fibers or planar waveguide platforms.