Photoinduced Electron Transfer Based Ion Sensing within an Optical Fiber

Abstract

We combine suspended-core microstructured optical fibers with the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) effect to demonstrate a new type of fluorescent optical fiber-dip sensing platform for small volume ion detection. A sensor design based on a simple model PET-fluoroionophore system and small core microstructured optical fiber capable of detecting sodium ions is demonstrated. The performance of the dip sensor operating in a high sodium concentration regime (925 ppm Na+) and for lower sodium concentration environments (18.4 ppm Na+) is explored and future approaches to improving the sensor’s signal stability, sensitivity and selectivity are discussed.

Keywords

• fluorescence sensor
• fiber-optic sensor
• microstructured optical fiber (MOF)
• photo induced electron transfer (PET)
• metal ion