| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 742663 | Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical | 2014 | 9 Pages |
•Use of a compact fiber interferometer as transducer for hydrogel based heavy metal cation sensing.•Facile method of poly(vinyl alcohol) thin hydrogel film formation on optical fiber with discussion on various design parameters.•Transferability of sensor for other sensing applications.•Potentials for continuous, remote sensing of water quality.
A Mach Zehnder fiber interferometer is demonstrated for sensing of the heavy metal cation, Ni2+ using a responsive poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) based hydrogel. The presence of Ni2+ increases degree of cross linkages within the hydrogel and increases its refractive index, leading to phase shift in the interferogram. Ni2+ concentration is monitored by the shifting of interference dips with a sensitivity of 0.214 nm/μM and limit of detection of 1 nM. Design of the PVA hydrogel to optimize sensitivity is discussed and the capability of the gel to immobilize various receptors enables a flexible platform for sensing applications.
