Active intrinsic optical chemical sensor for the detection and measurement of carbon monoxide in air

Steven J. Syracuse; Douglas J. Ferrell; Edgar A. Mendoza; Albert N. Khalil; Edward M. Schmidlin; Robert A. Lieberman

doi:10.1117/12.190968

21 October 1994 Active intrinsic optical chemical sensor for the detection and measurement of carbon monoxide in air

Steven J. Syracuse, Douglas J. Ferrell, Edgar A. Mendoza, Albert N. Khalil, Edward M. Schmidlin, Robert A. Lieberman

Proceedings Volume 2293, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Fiber Sensors VI; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.190968
Event: SPIE's 1994 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1994, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

In our ongoing work developing a reversible optical chemical sensor (OCS) for CO, we have produced a greatly simplified and improved sensor design. Chemically impregnated porous optical fiber has been replaced with impregnated porous Vycor glass; a battery powered blue LED has replaced a compact Hg lamp and power supply; optical fibers are no longer necessary; The Vycor acts as both chemical transducer and optical waveguide. The CO OCS now consists of five components: a 9 V battery and a blue LED; a transition metal impregnated porous Vycor matrix/waveguide; a short pass interference filter or a colloidally colored glass bandpass filter; and a large area, resin coated Si photodetector. The CO OCS responds reversibly to the presence of [CO] in both air and in N₂, over the 40 to 950 ppm range at STP. The sensor has shown a lower limit of detection of approximately 40 ppm at STP. In terms of the transmitted intensity, the sensor is very slow in responding to very slow changes or buildups in the [CO]_ambient. Yet, in the presence of rapid changes in the [CO]_ambient, the sensor displays a 100% time constant of 60 to 70 seconds irrespective of the delta [CO]_ambient. The new design simplifies sensing greatly in that optical fibers (and the various problems associated with their use), bulky light sources, and extremely fragile porous optical fibers have been supplanted by small, durable, inexpensive, commercially available components. The sensor could find application in environments in which the [CO] can or does change rapidly.

Citation Download Citation

Steven J. Syracuse, Douglas J. Ferrell, Edgar A. Mendoza, Albert N. Khalil, Edward M. Schmidlin, and Robert A. Lieberman "Active intrinsic optical chemical sensor for the detection and measurement of carbon monoxide in air", Proc. SPIE 2293, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Fiber Sensors VI, (21 October 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.190968

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available