Swelling clad-type plastic optical fiber alkane sensor with multi-layer cladding using electrospray deposition method

Abstract

In this study, we develop a plastic optical fiber (POF) sensor with a double-layer structure cladding consisting of a swelling polymer lower layer and a dye-doped swelling polymer upper layer. Both cladding layers swell and decrease their refractive indices when exposed to alkane vapor. Then, the structure of the POF sensor changes from leaky to waveguide mode. Therefore, the intensity of transmitted light changes remarkably, depending on the presence of alkane. The absorption of light due to the dye in the upper cladding layer increases the change in transmitted light intensity. In this study, we fabricated a POF sensor by using the electrospray deposition method and examined its response to alkane vapor. The results indicate an improvement in the sensitivity of the POF alkane sensor due to the effect of the double-clad layer.