Fiber optic fluorescence sensors based on sol-gel entrapped dyes

Brian D. MacCraith; Vincent P. Ruddy; C. Potter; John F. McGilp; Brendan O'Kelly

doi:10.1117/12.47129

1 September 1991 Fiber optic fluorescence sensors based on sol-gel entrapped dyes

Brian D. MacCraith, Vincent P. Ruddy, C. Potter, John F. McGilp, Brendan O'Kelly

Proceedings Volume 1510, Chemical and Medical Sensors; (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.47129
Event: ECO4 (The Hague '91), 1991, The Hague, Netherlands

Abstract

Many fiber optic sensors for chemical species rely on a change in the fluorescence characteristics of a dye in response to its chemical environment. Such sensors often require the complex immobilization of the fluorescent species on or near the fiber surface. A novel process, whereby a highly transparent porous glass can act as a support for sensor dyes, is presented. The sol-gel process for low-temperature fabrication of porous glass has been used as a means of entrapping chemically-sensitive dyes for fiber optic sensor applications. As a proof of principle, fluorescein dye was used to investigate the performance of a pH sensor. Because of its potential for distributed sensing and planar integrated optics sensors, evanescent-wave rather than direct excitation of fluorescence was used. A short length of unclad fiber was coated with a thin layer of porous cladding within which the pH-sensitive dye is entrapped. The sensor displayed maximum sensitivity in the range of pH 3.5 to pH 6.5 with a response time of less than 5 seconds. The suitability of the technique for distributed and integrated-optic sensing of gaseous and liquid species is discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Brian D. MacCraith, Vincent P. Ruddy, C. Potter, John F. McGilp, and Brendan O'Kelly "Fiber optic fluorescence sensors based on sol-gel entrapped dyes", Proc. SPIE 1510, Chemical and Medical Sensors, (1 September 1991); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.47129

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available