Open Access
Micro and nanostructured materials for the development of optical fibre sensors
(MDPI, 2017) Elosúa Aguado, César; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Del Villar, Ignacio; Ruiz Zamarreño, Carlos; Corres Sanz, Jesús María; Bariáin Aisa, Cándido; Goicoechea Fernández, Javier; Hernáez Sáenz de Zaitigui, Miguel; Rivero Fuente, Pedro J.; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Urrutia Azcona, Aitor; Sánchez Zábal, Pedro; Zubiate Orzanco, Pablo; López Torres, Diego; Acha Morrás, Nerea de; Ascorbe Muruzabal, Joaquín; Ozcariz Celaya, Aritz; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica
The measurement of chemical and biomedical parameters can take advantage of the features exclusively offered by optical fibre: passive nature, electromagnetic immunity and chemical stability are some of the most relevant ones. The small dimensions of the fibre generally require that the sensing material be loaded into a supporting matrix whose morphology is adjusted at a nanometric scale. Thanks to the advances in nanotechnology new deposition methods have been developed: they allow reagents from different chemical nature to be embedded into films with a thickness always below a few microns that also show a relevant aspect ratio to ensure a high transduction interface. This review reveals some of the main techniques that are currently been employed to develop this kind of sensors, describing in detail both the resulting supporting matrices as well as the sensing materials used. The main objective is to offer a general view of the state of the art to expose the main challenges and chances that this technology is facing currently.
Open Access
Multimode – coreless – multimode fiber-based sensors: theoretical and experimental study
(IEEE, 2019) San Fabián García, Noé; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Del Villar, Ignacio; Díaz Lucas, Silvia; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
This paper presents a complete study on the spectral behavior of a multimode-coreless-multimode fiber-optic structure, as well as its application as a refractometer and a liquid level sensor. The combination of two standard multimode fibers fused to a coreless fiber segment allows generating narrow interferometric bands in the optical spectrum, whose sensitivity can be improved by an adequate selection of the dimensions of the device (the coreless segment length and the diameter of the sensing area). A second way to improve the performance of the device is to deposit a thin film of SnO2, which allows increasing the sensitivity up to 314 nm/RIU. This widens the number of applications where this structure can be used. As an example, a liquid level sensor with 0.73 nm/mm sensitivity is presented.
Open Access
Single-mode-multimode-single-mode and lossy mode resonance-based devices: a comparative study for sensing applications
(Springer-Verlag, 2015) Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Corres Sanz, Jesús María; Del Villar, Ignacio; Hernáez Sáenz de Zaitigui, Miguel; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
Open Access
Quantum dots coatings inside photonic crystal fibers for temperature sensing
(IEEE, 2008-12-16) Arigita Lasheras, Jesús; Larrión Zabaleta, Beatriz; Bravo Larrea, Javier; Hernáez Sáenz de Zaitigui, Miguel; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Temperature sensors based on Quantum Dots (QDs) nanofilms deposited on the inner holes of a Photonic Crystal Fiber (PCF) was created using the layer by layer electrostatic self-assembly method. The structure is based on a PCF fiber segment spliced between two Standard Multimode Fibers (MMF) of different diameters. The sensors showed a linear variation of the intensity and wavelength emission for a temperature range from -20 ºC to 70 ºC.
Open Access
Planar-waveguide-lmr-based sensors: engineering the depth of characteristic curves
(IEEE, 2023) Shrivastav, Anand M.; Del Villar, Ignacio; Ascorbe Muruzabal, Joaquín; Corres Sanz, Jesús María; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Lossy mode resonance (LMR)-based sensors have been proven as one of the exponentially growing research fields since the last decade. These sensors have demonstrated their capabilities in the detection of several physical, chemical, and biological entities, such as refractive index, humidity, gases, enzymes, etc. Conventionally, LMR-based sensors are developed using optical fiber as the sensing platform, but to increase the broad range of applications and better tenability, planar waveguide substrates for LMR realization have been introduced in the last few years. This provides a greater degree of freedom for the sensor design such as tunability in substrate thickness, material, and better surface immobilization. The current study focuses on evaluating the effect of substrate thickness on LMR-based optical sensors to achieve higher sensing performance. For experiments, 150-μm-thick glass coverslips are used as the thin planer substrate, which is then coated with a few nanometers thick LMR-supported SnO 2 layer using the dc sputtering method. Furthermore, to monitor the effect of the changing substrate thickness, the width of the glass coverslip is reduced through the chemical etching process using the 40% HF solution, and simultaneously, the changes in LMR spectra are analyzed. The study shows that the depth of LMR curves strongly depend on the thickness of the waveguide providing LMRs with lower substrate thickness possesses higher depth. Greater depth in LMR curves is a crucial factor in identifying the minimum transmission wavelength of resonance, making it easier to track and detect the targeted parameter. This characteristic greatly enhances the applicability of LMR-based sensors in industrial applications.
Open Access
Thin film coated D-shaped fiber regenerable biosensor
(Optica, 2020) Santano Rivero, Desiree; Ciáurriz Gortari, Paula; Tellechea Malda, Edurne; Zubiate Orzanco, Pablo; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Del Villar, Ignacio; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
We present a novel covalent functionalization of a D-shape fiber biosensor based on Lossy Mode Resonances. IgG/anti-IgG model is applied to prove the regeneration of the union and thus the re-usability of the sensor.
Open Access
Lossy mode resonance enabling ultra-low detection limit for fibre-optic biosensors (INVITED)
(Springer, 2020) Chiavaioli, Francesco; Giannetti, Ambra; Tombelli, Sara; Trono, Cosimo; Del Villar, Ignacio; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Zubiate Orzanco, Pablo; Ruiz Zamarreño, Carlos; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Baldini, Francesco; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, 72/2015
The combination of optical fibre-based biosensors with nanotechnologies is providing the opportunity for the development of in situ, portable, lightweight, versatile and high-sensitivity optical sensing platforms. We report on the generation of lossy mode resonances (LMRs) by means of the deposition of nm-thick SnO2 film on optical fibres. This allows measuring precisely and accurately the changes in refractive index of the fibre-surrounding medium with very high sensitivity compared to other optical technology platforms, such as long period grating or surface plasmon resonance. This approach, mixed with the use of specialty fiber structures such as Dshaped fibres, allows improving the light-matter interaction in strong way. Different imaging systems, i.e. SEM and TEM along with X-EDS tool, have been used to study the optical features of the fiber coating. The shift of the LMR has been monitored in real-time thanks to conventional wavelength interrogation system and ad hoc developed microfluidics. A big leap in performance has been attained by detecting femtomolar concentrations in human serum. The biosensor reusability has been also tested by using a solution of sodium dodecyl sulphate.
Open Access
Optical fiber vacuum sensor based on modal interferometer and PDMS coating
(IEEE, 2019) Ascorbe Muruzabal, Joaquín; Fuentes Lorenzo, Omar; Corres Sanz, Jesús María; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
This work studies the behavior of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a transducer for optical vacuum pressure measurements. The optical structure chosen for this device is a modal interferometer achieved by splicing a coreless multimode optical fiber between two single mode fibers. Then, an etching process is applied to the obtained device, in order to decrease the diameter of the fiber and increase the sensitivity. Finally, the fiber is coated by dip-coating with a layer of PDMS, which changes its volume with pressure changes. The device has been studied in the 1x10(-3) mbar to 10 mbar range with a wavelength shift of 4 nm. A maximum sensitivity of 35 nm/mbar was obtained. The simple fabrication process, which can be applied to more sensitive structures, suggest that PDMS can be a good choice for the development of optical fiber vacuum sensors.
Open Access
Low-cost optical fiber multimode interference biosensor based on a glucose sensitive Glucose-Oxidase enzyme thin-film
(Elsevier, 2024-12-04) Rodríguez Rodríguez, Wenceslao Eduardo; Rodríguez Rodríguez, Adolfo Josué; Juárez-Saldivar, Alfredo; Ruiz Zamarreño, Carlos; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
In this research we report a contribution for the development of low-cost fiber optical biosensors fabricated by the Single Mode-Multi Mode-Single Mode configuration applied for the glucose monitoring considering clinical concentrations ranges in aqueous analytes. Designed devices are evaluated using health standard detection ranges, such as healthy, pre-diabetic, and diabetic stages operating at the visible spectral region. The sensing regions has been prepared by the etching technique in order to improve the interaction between the evanescent wave with the surrounding medium followed by functionalization of enzyme oxidase glucose via the electrostatic self-assembly using by Poly(allylamine hydrochloride) as an immobilizer matrix. The increase of bilayers number over the sensor surface permits us to demonstrate the enhancement of sensitivity and limit of detection. Experimental results permitted the glucose characterization in the range from 0.3 to 2.4 mg mL-1 obtaining a response time of 9 s and a sensitivity of 1.8 nm/(mg mL-1) allowing to detect hypoglycemia and diabetes stages according to the World Health Organization standards.
Open Access
Generation of lossy mode resonances by deposition of high-refractive-index coatings on uncladded multimode optical fibers
(IOP Publishing Ltd, 2010) Del Villar, Ignacio; Ruiz Zamarreño, Carlos; Sánchez Zábal, Pedro; Hernáez Sáenz de Zaitigui, Miguel; Fernández Valdivielso, Carlos; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
A comparative study of lossy mode resonances generated by depositing two different materials is presented. The two materials selected are indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium oxide. The two materials present different dielectric dispersion, which leads to the generation of single-peak lossy mode resonances with the ITO coated optical fibers and dual-peak lossy mode resonances with the In2O3 coated optical fibers. The obvious advantage of a dual-peak based measurement in the sensors field is enhanced by a sensitivity increase observed in sensors based on In2O3 if compared with those based on ITO. These characteristics are analyzed both theoretically and experimentally.