Jesus M. Corres

Design of Humidity Sensors Based on Tapered Optical Fibers

In this paper, the response of a tapered optical fiber humidity sensor is optimized, attending to the thickness of the sensitive coating, the dimensions of the taper, the light source, and the utilization of sensitive materials with different refractive indexes. The main novelty of this study is that the thickness of the sensitive layer is on the order of magnitude of the light wavelength used to excite the sensor. It is shown here that an estimation of the sensor sensitivity can be deducted from the transmitted optical power curve obtained during the layer-by-layer construction process. Theoretical and experimental results are presented

Optical Fiber Humidity Sensors Using Nanostructured Coatings of SiO

In this paper, a new optical fiber humidity sensor based on superhydrophilic coating is proposed. The electrostatic self-assembly technique has been used to create a nanometric scale surface on the tip of a standard single-mode pigtail. The fabricated sensor has demonstrated a good linearity in the range from 40% to 98% of relative humidity (RH). A variation of 10 dB in reflected optical power is achieved with a response time of only 150 ms. Among other applications, this sensor is intended to be used for monitoring the human breathing, so high dynamic performances are required, specially in the higher RH ranges.

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A novel pH sensor based on the deposition of electrostatic self-assembled polyallylamine hydrochloride and polyacrylic acid on the cladding of a long-period fiber grating has been designed. The overlay thickness is of the order of magnitude of the light wavelength used to interrogate the sensor. A theoretical model of multilayer cylindrical waveguides based on coupled-mode theory has been used to predict the position of the attenuation bands as a function of the overlay thickness. A study of the role that pH plays in the thickness of the sensitive overlay was carried out. Experimentally, a wavelength shift of the attenuation bands of up to 85 nm was obtained in the 4-7 range of pH units. The results are reproducible, which indicates the possibilities of a multiple-use sensor.

Nanoparticles

In this paper, two different pH sensors based on the deposition of nanometric scale polymeric films onto the surface of a long-period fiber grating (LPFG) have been studied and compared. An electrostatic self-assembled (ESA) method has been used to create sensitive films with an optimal overlay thickness. Two types of sensors have been designed: The first one is based on polyallylamine hydrochloride (PAH), polyacrylic acid (PAA), and the second one was done incorporating the pigment Prussian blue (PB) in the PAH/PAA matrix. A theoretical model of multilayer cylindrical waveguides based on coupled-mode theory has been used to predict the position of the attenuation bands as a function of the overlay thickness. Both sensors were tested and compared in terms of sensitivity and response time. A faster response was obtained with the introduction of PB particles in the polymeric matrix. Linear sensors in the pH range 4-7 were obtained, showing good repeatability and high sensitivity

Fiber-optic pH-sensors in long-period fiber gratings using electrostatic self-assembly

In this paper, a new optical fiber humidity sensor based on PVdF nanowebs is presented. The electrospinning technique has been used to create a nanometric scale membrane onto the surface of a hollow core fiber (HCF). The fabricated sensor has demonstrated a repetitive response in the range from 50 to 70% of relative humidity with a rise time of 100 ms. Among other applications, this sensor is intended to be used for monitoring the human breathing. Therefore, high dynamic performances are required, especially in the higher relative humidity ranges.

Design of pH Sensors in Long-Period Fiber Gratings Using Polymeric Nanocoatings

A novel sensing configuration for measuring humidity based on a long-period fibre grating coated with a thin film of silica nanospheres is proposed. The polymeric overlay is deposited on the grating using the electrostatic self-assembly technique. This thin film changes its optical properties when exposed to different humidity levels that translate into a shift of the resonance wavelength of the fibre grating. Wavelength shifts up to 12 nm in a relative humidity range from 20% to 80% are reported, and it is further demonstrated that such humidity sensitivity has negligible thermal dependence.

Optical Fiber Humidity Sensors Using PVdF Electrospun Nanowebs

The transmitted optical power of two different fiber optic based structures when a nanofilm is being deposited onto them is experimentally studied. The technique used to build the nanofilms is Electrostatic Self Assembly (ESA), which has been widely reported in the literature. For the shake of comprehensibility, the comparative analysis of this phenomenon is accomplished for a particular sensing measure, humidity. The two structures selected towards development of practical humidity evanescent field sensors are hollow core fibers and tapered optical fibers. Some preliminary experimental studies of depositing humidity sensitive thin films and demonstrating their feasibility are presented. Depending on the working point selected, up to 10dB of variation in the optical output power is obtained when the environmental humidity changes. Both configurations exhibit similar dynamic behavior and response times shorter than 300msec, making these evanescent field sensors good candidates to monitor human breathing

A fibre optic humidity sensor based on a long-period fibre grating coated with a thin film of SiO2 nanospheres

A relative humidity sensor based on the deposition of electrostatic self-assembled alumina ( Al2O3) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) on the cladding of a long-period fiber grating (LPFG) has been designed. The sensitive material has a lower refractive index than that of the fiber cladding, which limits the sensitivity of the LPFG response. In order to enhance its sensitivity, a previous high refractive index coating has been deposited. The overlay thickness is of the order of magnitude of the light wavelength used to interrogate the sensor. A theoretical model of multilayer cylindrical waveguides based on coupled-mode theory has been used to predict the phenomenon. Experimentally, an increased wavelength shift of the attenuation bands (75%) was obtained during the fabrication of the sensor, and, what is more important, the sensitivity was improved by a ratio of almost four. The proposed method improves the performance of LPFG-based sensors characterized by overlays of low refractive index.

Evanescent Field Fiber-Optic Sensors for Humidity Monitoring Based on Nanocoatings

A new humidity sensor has been developed by coating a tapered single-mode standard communications fiber with a humidity sensitive nanofilm using the electrostatic self-assembled (ESA) monolayer technique. Power changes up to 20 dB have been recorded during the coating process. In order to take advantage of both the potential sensitivity of the tapered fiber and the precise thickness control, which is possible to achieve using the ESA technique, the optimal layer thickness has been adjusted to the maximum slope point of the transmitted optical power curve as a function of the overlay thickness. An optimal working point sensor is compared to a nonoptimal one demonstrating the sensitivity difference between both.

Two-Layer Nanocoatings in Long-Period Fiber Gratings for Improved Sensitivity of Humidity Sensors

In this work, a new method for the detection of the negative effects of a particular unbalanced voltage and inverter harmonics on the performance of an induction motor using fiber sensors is proposed. Supplying a three-phase induction motor with unbalanced voltages causes an oscillating electromagnetic torque that generates vibrations, increased losses, efficiency reduction, and an extra temperature rise that leads to a reduction on insulation life of the machine. A new in-line fiber etalon accelerometer has been designed to detect these vibrations in the range DC-500 Hz. The in-line fiber etalon scheme used provides high robustness and stability, giving enough sensitivity to monitor the low-frequency and low-amplitude oscillations in the stator of the machine that exist in a voltage unbalance situation. To prove this claim, a 1.5-kW squirrel cage induction motor is analyzed under different unbalance levels. It is shown that a precise unbalance factor can be detected without accessing to the electric part of the machine and an accurate monitoring can be obtained using the high-resolution analysis proposed