Humidity Sensing by Chitosan-Coated Fibre Bragg Gratings (FBG)
Rosaria D’Amato,
Andrea Polimadei,
Gaetano Terranova,
Michele Arturo Caponero
Affiliations
Rosaria D’Amato
Photonics Micro and Nanostructures Laboratory, Fusion and Technologies for Nuclear Safety and Security Department, FSN-TECFIS-MNF, ENEA C.R. Frascati, Via E. Fermi, 45, 00044 Frascati, RM, Italy
Andrea Polimadei
Photonics Micro and Nanostructures Laboratory, Fusion and Technologies for Nuclear Safety and Security Department, FSN-TECFIS-MNF, ENEA C.R. Frascati, Via E. Fermi, 45, 00044 Frascati, RM, Italy
Gaetano Terranova
Photonics Micro and Nanostructures Laboratory, Fusion and Technologies for Nuclear Safety and Security Department, FSN-TECFIS-MNF, ENEA C.R. Frascati, Via E. Fermi, 45, 00044 Frascati, RM, Italy
Michele Arturo Caponero
Photonics Micro and Nanostructures Laboratory, Fusion and Technologies for Nuclear Safety and Security Department, FSN-TECFIS-MNF, ENEA C.R. Frascati, Via E. Fermi, 45, 00044 Frascati, RM, Italy
In this work, we report novel relative humidity sensors realized by functionalising fibre Bragg gratings with chitosan, a moisture-sensitive biopolymer never used before for this kind of fibre optic sensor. The swelling capacity of chitosan is fundamental to the sensing mechanism. Different samples were fabricated, testing the influence of coating design and deposition procedure on sensor performance. The sensitivity of the sensors was measured in an airtight humidity-controlled chamber using saturated chemical salt solutions. The best result in terms of sensitivity was obtained for a sensor produced on filter paper substrate. Tests for each design were performed in the environment, lasted several days, and all designs were independently re-tested at different seasons of the year. The produced sensors closely followed the ambient humidity variation common to the 24-h circadian cycle.
