Mach-Zehnder interferometer based integrated-photonic acetone sensor approaching the sub-ppm level detection limit

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Acetone in exhaled breath serves as a key metabolic marker for disease diagnostics.
• Current methods for acetone detection may lack the sensitivity or portability required for widespread clinical use.
• Developing non-invasive, sensitive, and reliable breath analysis tools is crucial for early disease detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and demonstrate an on-chip acetone gas sensor for exhaled breath analysis.
• To develop a highly sensitive and selective gas-sensitive material for acetone detection.
• To evaluate the sensor's performance for potential clinical applications in disease diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an on-chip Mach-Zehnder interferometer-based gas sensor.
• Coating the sensing arm with a composite film of polyethyleneimine and amido-graphene oxide.
• Testing the sensor's response to acetone gas at room temperature, assessing sensitivity, selectivity, and stability.
• Determining the sensor's limit of detection.

Main Results:

• The developed sensor operates effectively at room temperature.
• The composite film exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity towards acetone gas.
• The sensor demonstrates excellent reusability and long-term stability.
• A low detection limit of 0.76 ppm was achieved in a 20 ppm acetone environment.

Conclusions:

• The integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometer-based acetone gas sensor is a promising tool for non-invasive disease diagnostics.
• The polyethyleneimine and amido-graphene oxide composite film offers a robust and sensitive gas-adsorption layer.
• The sensor's performance characteristics make it suitable for clinical applications, including diabetes monitoring and heart failure prognosis.