Wide-range temperature measurement using a right-angle plastic optical fiber SPR sensor.

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Sensing
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Fiber-optic sensors are crucial for remote and harsh environment monitoring.
• Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) offers high sensitivity for detecting physical changes.
• Plastic Optical Fibers (POFs) provide flexibility and cost-effectiveness compared to glass fibers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel temperature sensor using SPR technology.
• To leverage a right-angle plastic optical fiber (POF) for enhanced sensing capabilities.
• To evaluate the sensor's performance across a wide temperature range and assess its stability.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a right-angle POF by hot pressing.
• Deposition of Ag/PDMS composite films onto the planar surfaces.
• Characterization of the sensor's response to temperature variations using SPR principles.

Main Results:

• Achieved a high temperature sensitivity of -1.371 nm/°C.
• Demonstrated effective operation over a broad temperature range (-40°C to 96°C).
• Exhibited excellent repeatability and cycling stability during temperature changes.

Conclusions:

• The developed SPR sensor based on a right-angle POF is a cost-effective and robust solution for wide-range temperature monitoring.
• The sensor's performance surpasses many existing fiber-optic temperature sensors.
• The straightforward fabrication process makes it suitable for practical, large-scale applications.