Fiber optic chemical sensor constructed with different types of optical fiber

Optical fiber sensors have gained much attention in recent years. Optical fiber based chemical sensors often use a reaction chamber within which a chemical reaction involving the sensing species occurs. A color change may result from this chemical reaction and, with light passing through the reaction chamber, the light intensity can be modulated by this color change. Consequently, this change in light intensity can be used to quantify the sensing species present. In most of these chemical sensors, either one or two optical fibers will be used. If a single fiber is used, the signal derived from the chemical reaction is relatively weak. On the other hand, if either one or two optical fibers are used, a mirror-finished surface is usually required for the reflection of light to the detector. In this research, optical fiber sensors are constructed using two different types of fibers. One is a quartz fiber and the other is a plastic fiber. The plastic fiber is more flexible and can be bent or connected with a slant surface at the top of the fiber at 45°. Two types of sensors were constructed - a temperature sensor employing a thermochromic solution and a pH sensor using a pH sensitive dye. By using the two types of fiber, a mirror-finished surface is no longer necessary. The weak signal due to the use of a single fiber is also minimized.