Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 181-186 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical |
| Volume | 265 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2017 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
A simple yet highly-effective means for sensitivity enhancement of polymer-based effective index sensors using tailored high-index thin films is presented. Simulation and experimental results show that an appropriately-placed PTFE/Ta2O5 thin film can lead to enhanced sensitivity of asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometers to external refractive index changes of factors between 3 and 8. The films are deposited on the polymer using ion beam sputtering (IBS) at low temperatures (<80 °C) thereby avoiding detrimental heating effects on the substrate. It is shown that the limit of detection of the interferometer sensors is enhanced by a factor 20 (down to Δn ≤ 10−4) using these films.
Keywords
- Asymmetric, Chemical sensors, Mach–Zehnder interferometers, Polymers, Sensitivity enhancement
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Instrumentation
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science(all)
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
- Materials Science(all)
- Metals and Alloys
- Engineering(all)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
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In: Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical, Vol. 265, 01.09.2017, p. 181-186.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Sensitivity enhancement of polymeric Mach–Zehnder interferometers by use of thin high-index films
AU - Xiao, Yanfen
AU - Mendez, Salvador Aguilar
AU - Hofmann, Meike
AU - Gauch, Melanie
AU - Ehlers, Henrik
AU - Ristau, Detlev
AU - Mueller, Claas
AU - Zappe, Hans
N1 - Funding information: The authors are grateful to Uwe Gleissner for providing the polymer materials. This work was partially funded by the Collaborative Research Center PlanOS SFB/TRR 123 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) .
PY - 2017/9/1
Y1 - 2017/9/1
N2 - A simple yet highly-effective means for sensitivity enhancement of polymer-based effective index sensors using tailored high-index thin films is presented. Simulation and experimental results show that an appropriately-placed PTFE/Ta2O5 thin film can lead to enhanced sensitivity of asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometers to external refractive index changes of factors between 3 and 8. The films are deposited on the polymer using ion beam sputtering (IBS) at low temperatures (<80 °C) thereby avoiding detrimental heating effects on the substrate. It is shown that the limit of detection of the interferometer sensors is enhanced by a factor 20 (down to Δn ≤ 10−4) using these films.
AB - A simple yet highly-effective means for sensitivity enhancement of polymer-based effective index sensors using tailored high-index thin films is presented. Simulation and experimental results show that an appropriately-placed PTFE/Ta2O5 thin film can lead to enhanced sensitivity of asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometers to external refractive index changes of factors between 3 and 8. The films are deposited on the polymer using ion beam sputtering (IBS) at low temperatures (<80 °C) thereby avoiding detrimental heating effects on the substrate. It is shown that the limit of detection of the interferometer sensors is enhanced by a factor 20 (down to Δn ≤ 10−4) using these films.
KW - Asymmetric
KW - Chemical sensors
KW - Mach–Zehnder interferometers
KW - Polymers
KW - Sensitivity enhancement
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85028920510&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.sna.2017.08.037
DO - 10.1016/j.sna.2017.08.037
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85028920510
VL - 265
SP - 181
EP - 186
JO - Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical
JF - Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical
SN - 0924-4247
ER -