Abstract
This paper presents a novel platform for the formation
of cost-effective PCB-integrated optical waveguide sensors. The sensor design
relies on the use of multimode polymer waveguides that can be formed directly
on standard PCBs and commercially-available chemical dyes, enabling the integration
of all essential sensor components (electronic, photonic, chemical) on low-cost
substrates. Moreover, it enables the detection of multiple analytes from a
single device by employing waveguide arrays functionalised with different
chemical dyes. The devices can be manufactured with conventional methods of
the PCB industry, such as solder-reflow processes and pick-and-place assembly
techniques. As a proof of principle, a PCB-integrated ammonia gas sensor is
fabricated on a FR4 substrate. The sensor operation relies on the change of
the optical transmission characteristics of chemically functionalised optical
waveguides in the presence of ammonia molecules. The fabrication and assembly
of the sensor unit, as well as fundamental simulation and characterisation
studies, are presented. The device achieves a sensitivity of approximately
30 ppm and a linear response up to 600 ppm at room temperature. Finally, the
potential to detect multiple analytes from a single device is demonstrated
using principal-component analysis.
© 2013 IEEE
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