Development of FBG humidity sensor via controlled annealing temperature of additive enhanced ZnO nanostructure coating
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2022
Abstract
Hygroscopic materials are often explored and utilized as a sensing element in various devices for many different industries. Optical based sensors operate in conjunction with materials that are reactive to the parametric changes in the environment. Modified synthesis process allows formation of unique and novel nanostructures that can potentially be adapted as a sensor. This study focuses on characterizing hygroscopic behavior and exploring the sensing integration of additive enhanced zinc oxide coating for application in FBG as humidity sensor. ZnO-HMT was observed under a microscope within varied relative humidity levels. All samples of ZnO-HMT annealed at different temperatures showed water adsorption with water droplets of various sizes (-50 mu m). Hygroscopic characterization via technique adopted from ASTM-reveals that sample annealed with 140 degrees C showed best water adsorption and release. The sample annealed at 140 degrees C was then coated on to a uniform FBG and tested within sealed chamber with varying humidity range between 40 and 80 RH%. The optical spectrum was combined, and wavelength shifts has been analyzed. The sensitivity of the FBG sensor achieved up to 0.0008 nm/% within range of 40 - 80 % humidity with > 87 % linearity. The development of the low temperature modified ZnO nanostructure coated on the FBG as a humidity sensor was successful. The nanostructure can have potential impact in pharmaceutical and power storage industries due to its simplicity in synthesis which brings about lower manufacturing costs of materials for optical sensors.
Keywords
Coating, HMT, Hydrothermal, Optical fiber, Sensitivity
Divisions
sch_ecs
Funders
Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) [Grant No: FRGS/1/2018/TK10/HWUM/02/2]
Publication Title
Optical Fiber Technology
Volume
68
Publisher
Elsevier Science Inc
Publisher Location
STE 800, 230 PARK AVE, NEW YORK, NY 10169 USA