Integration of Nanoparticles Into and Onto Optical Fiber Sensors
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Integration of Nanoparticles Into and Onto Optical Fiber Sensors A. Dhawan and J. F. Muth, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NC State University, Raleigh NC 27695.
ABSTRACT Metallic and semiconducting nanoparticles were incorporated into and on the surface of optical fibers to form sensors and other optoelectronic devices on standard telecommunications grade optical fibers. Optical fibers provide a macroscopic platform to exploit the wide range of functionality inherent in nanostructures and nanoparticles. Several ways of forming sensitive and robust chemical sensors, based on plasmon resonances of metallic islands and nanoparticles, were demonstrated. These nanoparticles were formed on tip or surface of the optical fibers by thermal or plasma arc annealing of very thin (4 -12 nm) gold films, that were deposited by electron beam deposition and sputtering. Metallic and semiconducting nanoparticles were also incorporated inside an optical fiber matrix and this could enable us to effectively characterize novel materials and possibly form optical switches. Moreover, these optical fiber sensors and devices were integrated into textile structures to explore the possibility of formation of optoelectronic textiles. INTRODUCTION Optical sensors can have numerous advantages including high response times, high sensitivity, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. Using optical fibers for sensing offers all of the advantages of using optical sensors along with some advantages that are unique to optical fibers like small size and weight, environmental robustness, ability to be remotely interrogated, and the ability to form large-area distributed sensing systems. In our work, chemical sensors are being developed on optical fibers and the possibility of forming other optoelectronic devices like optical switches, modulators, and interferometers on the fibers is being explored. Optical fiber-based sensors and other devices can then be integrated into substrates like textile fabrics. Optical fibers can be woven or knitted into a fabric in a manner similar to conventional single filament yarns made from polymers. Optical fibers can also be embedded into non-woven materials by the processes of electro-spinning [1], melt blowing, or spun bonding. These textile-based substrates are flexible and conformable and can therefore be
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used to form large-area distributed sensing systems. One could deploy and re-deploy these sensor systems, with a large number of sensors embedded over a large area easily by unrolling a large fabric like a carpet. Optical sensors and devices were developed based on the optical properties of metallic and semiconducting nanoparticles. Semiconducting nanoparticles offer interesting properties like high recombination efficiency for emission and nonlinear saturation effects. Metallic nanoparticles are well known for plasmon resonance effects, which can be utilized for chemical sensing. Surface plasmons occur when electronic charges on the interface of two media havi
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