Optical waveguide sensor of volatile organic compounds based on PTA thin film

• Published in: Analytica chimica acta Vol. 658; no. 1; pp. 63 - 67
• Main Authors: Abdurahman, Renagul, Yimit, Abliz, Ablat, Hayrensa, Mahmut, Mamtimin, De Wang, Ji, Itoh, Kiminori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 18.01.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Chemistry; Chlolobenzene gas; Chlorobenzenes - chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; Gas sensor; Gases - chemistry; General, instrumentation; Lasers; Optical waveguide; Peroxopolytungsten acid; Reproducibility of Results; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet - methods; Tungsten Compounds - chemistry; VOCs; Volatile Organic Compounds - analysis; Volatile Organic Compounds - chemistry; VOCs; Gas sensor; Optical waveguide; Chlolobenzene gas; Peroxopolytungsten acid; Trace analysis; Tungsten compound; Potassium ion; Glass; Immobilization; Optical sensor; Volatile organic compound; Air; Chemical sensor; Coatings; Thin film; Laser beam; Membrane; Reversibility; Ion exchange; Carrier gas; Gas detector
• ISSN: 0003-2670; 1873-4324
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2009.10.056

In this study, a sensitive optical waveguide (OWG) sensor for the detection and identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was reported. The sensing membrane is constructed by immobilization of peroxopolytungsten acid (PTA) thin film over a single-mode potassium ion (K +) exchanged glass OWG by spin-coating method. A laser beam was coupled into and out of the glass optical waveguide using prism couplers, and dry air functioned as a carrier gas. The sensor was tested for various volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and it showed higher response to the chlorobenzene gas compared to other VOCs. Therefore, we used the OWG sensor to detect chlorobenzene gas as a typical example of VOCs. The sensor exhibits a linear response to chlorobenzene gas in the range of 0.4–1000 ppm with rapid response and good reversibility. The constructed sensor is easy to fabricate and it has some unique qualities which can be characterized as inexpensive, sensitive, and reusable.