UV sensing optode for composite materials environment monitoring

P Miluski,M Kochanowicz,J Zmojda,A.P Silva,P.N.B Reis,T Ragin,D Dorosz

doi:10.1515/secm-2019-0008

Abstract

Abstract The polymeric optical fibre technology can be successfully used for UV spectrum range radiation measurements.Anew type of fluorescent optical fibre optode is presented. The used fluorescent wave-shifter was used for UV-VIS conversion and radiation measurements. The linear characteristic with sensitivity 480 mW−1 is presented for UV range 7.2-13.6 mW. Presented optode construction advantages (small dimensions, low weight, high immunity to electromagnetic fields and distributed sensor architecture possibility) are attractive for numerous composite based engineering applications.

Highlights

IntroductionAdvantages of polymer matrix based composite materials (flexibility, light weight, and high stiffness) are desired in numerous aerospace, automotive, marine and military applications [1–5]
Advantages of polymer matrix based composite materials are desired in numerous aerospace, automotive, marine and military applications [1–5]
The polymeric optical fibre technology can be successfully used for UV spectrum range radiation measurements

Summary

Introduction

Advantages of polymer matrix based composite materials (flexibility, light weight, and high stiffness) are desired in numerous aerospace, automotive, marine and military applications [1–5]. One of the well-known possibility of UV detection is using wave-shifter complexes which allow conversion UV into the visible spectrum range and observed with the bare eye. VIS spectrum range sensitivity of typical silicon p-n photodiodes is significantly higher than observed for UV wavelengths. High optical aperture and flexibility of polymeric optical fibres make them a good candidate for UV sensing optode construction. The excitation spectra of organic fluorophores are very wide and very often overlap visible spectrum range and significantly decrease selectivity of such optodes. Proposed in the paper (BisMSB) doped poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) optode offers well-defined excitation spectrum with sharp edge UV/VIS spectral range. Characteristic fluorescence spectrum shape can be used for a visible range of solar spectrum shape influence minimization

Experimental procedure

UV optode construction

Conclusions