title: Diffractive optic sensor for remote-point detection of ammonia.
abstract: Remote-point photonic sensors are fabricated and evaluated. They are based on nanocomposite thin films comprising NiCl(2) nanocrystals embedded in sol-gel silica matrix and are patterned using direct UV laser microetching techniques to form surface relief structures, which exhibit environment sensitive optical diffraction effects. A strong response to ammonia is detected via the alteration of diffraction efficiency of its orders upon exposure to the analyte. Detection of ammonia in the 2 ppm level with a typical response time of about 30 s in the ambient, 50% RH 20 degrees C, room environment is demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science, University of Patras, Patras 26 504, Greece. vasileiadis@upatras.gr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vasileiadis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Athanasekos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meristoudi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alexandropoulos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mousdis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karoutsos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Botsialas
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Vainos