Fiber-optic sensor modified by electrospun Polymer/Ti₃C₂ MXene-TiO₂ for dimethyl sulfoxide sensing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Sensing
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Dipolar aprotic solvents like dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are widely used in synthesis and industry.
• Existing sensors lack real-time identification capabilities for these solvents.
• There is a need for selective and sensitive DMSO gas detection methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a U-shaped evanescent optical fiber (UOFE) sensor for real-time DMSO gas detection.
• To investigate the sensing mechanism based on material interactions.
• To evaluate the sensor's selectivity and sensitivity.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of UOFEs using electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with Ti3C2 MXene/TiO2 hybrid nanofibers.
• Testing the UOFEs' response to DMSO gas.
• Assessing cross-sensitivity to other dipolar aprotic solvents.
• Analyzing the synergistic effects of the composite material.

Main Results:

• The PAN/Ti3C2 MXene/TiO2 UOFEs exhibited high sensitivity to DMSO gas.
• The sensor demonstrated selective detection of DMSO, distinguishing it from other solvents.
• Sensing mechanism involves dipole-dipole interactions, DMSO solubility, and refractive index changes.
• Synergistic effects of the composite nanofibers enhanced gas diffusion and interaction.

Conclusions:

• The developed UOFE sensor offers a promising solution for selective DMSO gas detection.
• This technology has potential applications in indoor air quality monitoring, environmental protection, and industrial safety.
• Combining electrospun nanofibers with optical fibers is effective for advanced gas sensing.