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All-nanoparticle layer-by-layer coatings for Mid-IR on-chip gas sensing
Diana Al Husseini1, Junchao Zhou, Daniel Willhelm
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. svetlana@tamu.edu.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|November 1, 2020
Summary
Submicron coatings of zinc peroxide and silica nanoparticles enhance optical waveguide sensitivity for acetone detection. Precise layer-by-layer deposition control improves mid-infrared on-chip sensor performance.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Optical Engineering
- Chemical Sensing
Background:
- Optical waveguides are crucial for integrated photonic devices.
- Enhancing the sensitivity of on-chip detectors is a key challenge in chemical sensing.
- Nanoparticle coatings offer potential for modifying waveguide properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To functionalize optical waveguides with zinc peroxide (ZnO2) and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles.
- To improve the sensitivity of mid-infrared (MIR) on-chip detectors for acetone vapor detection.
- To achieve controlled submicron coating thickness using layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition.
Main Methods:
- Layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition technique was employed for nanoparticle coating.
- Precise control of substrate withdrawal speed was implemented to manage coating thickness.
- Zinc peroxide (ZnO2) and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles were used for waveguide functionalization.
Main Results:
- Selective concentration of acetone vapors near the functionalized waveguide was achieved.
- The sensitivity of the MIR on-chip detector was significantly boosted.
- Controlled submicron coating thicknesses of ZnO2 and SiO2 NPs were successfully fabricated.
Conclusions:
- Functionalizing optical waveguides with ZnO2 and SiO2 NPs enhances acetone vapor detection sensitivity.
- The LbL technique with controlled withdrawal speed is effective for fabricating precise nanoparticle coatings.
- This approach offers a promising route for developing highly sensitive MIR on-chip chemical sensors.
