Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

This dissertation explores the development of metal-organic framework (MOF)-based optical fiber sensors for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at low concentrations (parts-per-billion to parts-per-million). In the first part of the study, theoretical calculations were performed using effective medium approximation (EMA) models, including Lorentz–Lorentz, Maxwell–Garnett, and Bruggeman equations, to predict the refractive index changes of MOFs upon gas adsorption. These models were applied to MOFs such as ZIF-7, ZIF-8, ZIF-90, MIL-101(Cr), and HKUST-1 to evaluate their potential for gas sensing.

In the second part of the dissertation, experimental work was conducted to validate the theoretical predictions. MOF-coated optical fibers were fabricated and tested for their ability to detect ethanol under varying concentrations. The experimental results showed significant refractive index shifts consistent with the calculated values, confirming the reliability of the EMA models. Enhancement factors were also determined to assess the selectivity and storage capacities of the MOFs based on guest-host interactions. The alignment between the theoretical calculations and experimental findings demonstrates the effectiveness of MOF-based sensors for real-time and highly sensitive gas detection. This work lays the foundation for further research on expanding the range of detectable gases and improving sensor stability for practical applications.

Advisor(s)

Huang, Jie

Committee Member(s)

Dogan, Fatih
Shamsi, Pourya
Ferdowsi, Mehdi
Zhang, Jiangfan

Department(s)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Summer 2025

Journal article titles appearing in thesis/dissertation

Paper I, found on pages 12–54, was published in Optic Express in February 2023.
Paper II, found on pages 55–87, was published in the IEEE Sensors Journal in March 2024.

Pagination

xii, 94 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes_bibliographical_references_(pages 91-93)

Rights

© 2025 Nahideh Salehifar , All Rights Reserved

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 12518

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