Ion imprinted differential modulation system based on enhanced optic-fiber evanescent wave for sensitive and label-free detection of trace nickel ions

Abstract

An optical system with low cost monitoring, high sensitivity, strong selectivity and much lower nickel ion (Ni2+) content in tap water than the World Health Organization (WHO) standard (1.19 μM) has been prepared by a simple strategy. This proposed ion-imprinted differential modulation system is based on the Bragg grating (FBG) and microfiber interferometer structure, and the interferometer sensing surface is coated with a polydopamine (PDA)/graphene oxide (GO) film to enhance its sensitivity. Combined with the ion imprinting technique, the microfiber interferometer sensor sensitivity can reach 0.32 nm/nM with the detection limit of 0.66 nM in the low concentration range (Ni2+ concentration range is 0 nM–100 nM). The experiment not only studies the principle of microfiber interferometer and FBG and their refractive index and temperature performance, but also shows that the FBG power change has a good fitting relationship with wavelength change. In addition, this system performance by the amount of power difference rather than the amount of wavelength shift, which significantly saves on the high cost weight, and size associated with the use of spectral analyzers in traditional inspection systems. This study provides a novel and easy method to develop new sensors with higher comprehensive performance.