ZnO-Coated SMS Structure Interrogated by a Fiber Ring Laser for Chemical Sensing

Abstract

A zinc oxide (ZnO)-coated single mode-multimode-single mode fiber (SMS) structure interrogated by a fiber ring laser has been developed as a chemical sensor. Response to relative humidity (RH) and ethanol volatilization was evaluated by tracking the wavelength shifts of the output laser line in different moisture environments and ethanol solutions, respectively. For humidity sensing a linear response with a measurement range of 4-96% RH, and a sensitivity of 0.06 nm per %RH were obtained. As for ethanol volatilization sensing obvious wavelength blue shift was observed for the sensor immersed in 50% and 62% ethanol solution, while no variation could be detected in pure ethanol solution (purity larger than 97%). With the advantages of low cost, ease of fabrication and sensitive response, ZnO-coated SMS interrogated with a fiber ring laser was demonstrated to be an effective sensor for humidity and ethanol volatilization sensing.

Department(s)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Sponsor(s)

Natural Science Foundation of China

Comments

This research was supported by research funding provided by the Natural Science Foundation of China (61307099, 51275373).

Keywords and Phrases

Chemical sensors; Ethanol; Fibers; Humidity sensors; Ring lasers; Zinc oxide; Ethanol solutions; Fiber-ring lasers; Humidity sensing; Measurement range; Moisture environment; Single-mode-multimode- single-mode fiber structures; Wavelength shift; ZnO thin film; Single mode fibers; Ethanol volatilization monitoring; Fiber ring laser; Humidity sensing

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0957-0233

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2014 Institute of Physics - IOP Publishing, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Oct 2014

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