Diffractive optic sensor for remote-point detection of ammonia.
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.
Vasileiadis
M
M
Department of Materials Science, University of Patras, Patras 26 504, Greece. vasileiadis@upatras.gr
Athanasekos
L
L
Meristoudi
A
A
Alexandropoulos
D
D
Mousdis
G
G
Karoutsos
V
V
Botsialas
A
A
Vainos
N A
NA