Optical fiber sensing element based on luminescence quenching of silica nanowires modified with cryptophane-A for the detection of methane

An optical fiber sensing element based on luminescence quenching of cryptophane-A/silica nanowires was successfully constructed and used to dynamically monitor methane gas at low concentration below 3.5% (v/v). The optical fiber device was designed to operate via luminescence reflection. The sensing properties of optical sensing element to methane at room temperature were characterized. The sensing element shows an intensive and stable blue luminescence when excited by UV light source at wavelength of 380 nm, and it is efficiently quenched by molecular methane. The response of the sensing element demonstrates excellent linear Stern–Volmer behavior at the fixed wavelength 439 nm within the methane concentration range between 0.1% and 3.5% (v/v). A detection limit of below 0.1% (v/v) is estimated for the methane sensing element. This newly developed methane sensing element has significant advantages over the currently available methane sensors such as fast response and recovery (within seconds), good repeatability, selectivity, and long-term stability.