Topic: Ultra-sensitive optical fiber gas sensors
Professor Wei Jin and his research team developed a novel all-fibre optical technique that improves the sensitivity and dynamic range of optical fibre gas sensors by approximately three orders of magnitude. The team members are Research Associate Dr. Yingchun Cao, PhD student Mr. Fang Yang, and Scientific Office Dr. Hoi Lut Ho. They have had an article “Ultra-sensitive all-fibre photothermal spectroscopy with large dynamic range” published online in the prestigious journal Nature Communications on 13 April 2015
Detection of trace chemicals sensitively and selectively is important for environmental, medical and security applications. Optical fiber gas sensors have numerous advantages such as compact size, free from electromagnetic interference, ease of multiplexing, capability for remote sensing. However, conventional optical fiber gas sensors based on transmission spectroscopy have limitations in performance. The lower detection limits are typically 10-100 parts per million (ppm) and the dynamic ranges are two to three orders of magnitude. Instead of measuring transmission loss, Jin’s team exploited absorption-induced phase change in a gas-filled hollow-core photonic bandgap fibre and demonstrated ultra-sensitive all-fibre acetylene gas sensors with ppb (parts per billion) level detection limit and an unprecedented dynamic range of nearly six orders of magnitude.
The sensor system uses near infrared diode lasers and fibre-based technology, and would enable a new class of optical sensors with low cost, compact size, ultra sensitivity and selectivity, applicability to harsh environment, and capability for distributed sensing. It can be used to detect a range of gases (e.g., CO2, CO, CH4, N2O, H2S, NH3, HI, C4H6) that have absorption lines in the transmission bands of hollow-core optical fibres. The extension of the technique to liquid analysis is straightforward. When combined with fibre-based microfluidic arrangement, it would provide an ultra-sensitive means for environmental, medical, chemical and bio-chemical detection with micro/nano litre sample consumption.
The article can be found online here
Download the published paper
Professor Wei Jin and his research team developed a novel all-fibre optical technique that improves the sensitivity and dynamic range of optical fibre gas sensors by approximately three orders of magnitude. The team members are Research Associate Dr. Yingchun Cao, PhD student Mr. Fang Yang, and Scientific Office Dr. Hoi Lut Ho. They have had an article “Ultra-sensitive all-fibre photothermal spectroscopy with large dynamic range” published online in the prestigious journal Nature Communications on 13 April 2015
Detection of trace chemicals sensitively and selectively is important for environmental, medical and security applications. Optical fiber gas sensors have numerous advantages such as compact size, free from electromagnetic interference, ease of multiplexing, capability for remote sensing. However, conventional optical fiber gas sensors based on transmission spectroscopy have limitations in performance. The lower detection limits are typically 10-100 parts per million (ppm) and the dynamic ranges are two to three orders of magnitude. Instead of measuring transmission loss, Jin’s team exploited absorption-induced phase change in a gas-filled hollow-core photonic bandgap fibre and demonstrated ultra-sensitive all-fibre acetylene gas sensors with ppb (parts per billion) level detection limit and an unprecedented dynamic range of nearly six orders of magnitude.
The sensor system uses near infrared diode lasers and fibre-based technology, and would enable a new class of optical sensors with low cost, compact size, ultra sensitivity and selectivity, applicability to harsh environment, and capability for distributed sensing. It can be used to detect a range of gases (e.g., CO2, CO, CH4, N2O, H2S, NH3, HI, C4H6) that have absorption lines in the transmission bands of hollow-core optical fibres. The extension of the technique to liquid analysis is straightforward. When combined with fibre-based microfluidic arrangement, it would provide an ultra-sensitive means for environmental, medical, chemical and bio-chemical detection with micro/nano litre sample consumption.
The article can be found online here
Download the published paper
