The Optoelectronic Ammonia Gas Sensor System based on Pd/CuPc Interferometric Nanostructures

Abstract

Abstract In the present work the multichannel, optoelectronic ammonia gas sensor system based on interferometric, gasochromic nanostructures has been presented. At the sensing window, on the BK7 glass substrate is immobilized with a chemo-optical, gasochromic and interferometric transducer receptor nanostructure based on Cu–phthalocyanine (CuPc) thin films. The CuPc films were deposited by thermal evaporation. Additionally, to enhance the sensing performance of these CuPc thin films, the surfaces were deposited with ultra-thin film of Pd metal. When a physical-chemical interaction between sensing structure and NH3 gas is taking place on the sensing window of the measuring channel, a interferential color of the sensing element (nanostructure) change and color coordinates of measuring optical signal will change. The color sensor TCS230 detecting the intensity and change of color coordinates RGB of the optical signal resulting from the sensing structure exposure to ammonia gas. Optical ammonia gas sensor displays a very fast response time and a fast regeneration time at low temperature (70C).