Joybelle Lopez

Porous silicon optical template for determination of chromatic dispersion of transparent liquid mixture

Porous silicon was fabricated through electrochemical etching and is used as an optical template for liquid sensing application. Using reflectance spectroscopy, change in optical properties such as refractive index and reflectivity upon liquid introduction were obtained. Chromatic dispersion of porous silicon upon detection of transparent liquids such as absolute ethanol, methanol, 2-propanol and distilled water were determined for spectral range 450nm to 1100nm. Mixture of the organic transparent liquid and water was also tested. In this study, porosity and liquid’s concentration were varied to establish the sensitivity of detection. Expected ideal values were also simulated for comparison and correction factor computation. Results provide calibration basis for water quality assessment, environmental monitoring, and diagnostic application.