Abstract
A Mach Zehnder fiber interferometer is demonstrated for sensing of the heavy metal cation, Ni2+ using a responsive poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) based hydrogel. The presence of Ni2+ increases degree of cross linkages within the hydrogel and increases its refractive index, leading to phase shift in the interferogram. Ni2+ concentration is monitored by the shifting of interference dips with a sensitivity of 0.214nm/μM and limit of detection of 1nM. Design of the PVA hydrogel to optimize sensitivity is discussed and the capability of the gel to immobilize various receptors enables a flexible platform for sensing applications.
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