Abstract
This paper describes the design and characterization of miniaturized optofluidic devices for sensing based on integrating collimating optical fibers with custom microfluidic chips. The use of collimating graded-index fiber (GIF) tips allows for effective fiber-channel-fiber interfaces to be realized when compared with using highly-divergent standard single-mode fiber (SMF). The reduction in both beam divergence and insertion losses for the GIF configuration compared with SMF was characterized for a 10.0 mm channel. Absorption spectroscopy was demonstrated on chip for the measurement of red color dye (Ponceau 4R), and the detection of thiocyanate in water and artificial human saliva. The proposed optofluidic setup allows for absorption spectroscopy measurements to be performed with only 200 µL of solution which is an order of magnitude smaller than for standard cuvettes but provides a comparable sensitivity. The approach could be integrated into a lab-on-a-chip system that is compact and does not require free-space optics to perform absorption spectroscopy.
Highlights
Optofluidics is a rapidly growing field that emerged in the early 2000s as the disciplines of nanophotonics and microfluidics matured
We demonstrate the operation of the microfluidic device using a simple solution of red color dye
The absorption of the red food color dye at its absorption peak of 501 nm is shown in Fig. 5 as a function of dye concentration (5 μM to 33 μM) for both the standard cuvette and the custom graded-index fiber (GIF)-enabled microfluidic chip
Summary
Optofluidics is a rapidly growing field that emerged in the early 2000s as the disciplines of nanophotonics and microfluidics matured. Since most lab-on-a-chip optofluidic devices have been limited to short-term research rather than being directly integrated into user-friendly real-world products, there is a need to focus on simple, practical and cost-effective devices which balance design and real-world impact. This improves the chances of techniques and technologies being developed that can be commercialized
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
