A hetero-core structured fiber optic pH sensor

Novel spectroscopic sensor based on a hetero-core structured fiber optic is described in this paper. The hetero-core structured fiber optic consists of multi mode fibers and a short piece of single mode fiber which was inserted in the multi mode fibers. Phenol red and/or cresol red as pH sensitive dyes were immobilized on the surface of the hetero-core portion by using sol–gel method, and the pH change detection was performed by immersing the hetero-core portion into the solution. In the case that the cresol-red immobilized fiber was immersed in the alkaline and/or acidic solution, the peak wavelength of the propagating loss spectra were about 575 and 545 nm, respectively. These propagating loss spectra were similar to that of the absorbance spectra of the dye solution. In the propagating loss spectra of phenol-red immobilized fiber, these spectra were similar to that of the dye solution. The colorimetric change of the dye in the support matrix was reversible, and the response time of the sensor was within 30 s.