Enhanced evanescent wave sensors based on sol-gel-derived porous glass coatings

Abstract Optical chemical and biochemical sensors based on evanescent wave interactions on optical fibres are of great interest because of their advantages in a number of applications. Two mechanisms are used: direct spectroscopic sensing and reagent-mediated sensing. The theoretical design criteria underlying both approaches are presented. A novel approach is proposed whereby porous sol-gel glass coatings are used to enhance the performance of both types of evanescent wave sensor. The particular advantages obtained by applying the technique to a pH sensor based on dye fluorescence and a methane gas sensor based on infrared absorption are presented.

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