Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds Based on Optical Fibre using Nanostructured Films

An optical fibre sensor for detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has been implemented. This device is based on a vapochromic material presented in the form of bright red powders, which suffers reversible changes in its optical properties when exposed to some organic vapours. The sensor head consists of a nano interferometer doped with the vapochromic material, built onto a cleaved ended multimode optical fibre by using the Layer by Layer Electrostatic Self Assembly Method (LbL). A reflection scheme was used, so the intensity modulated reflected signal is registered in order to study its response. Changes up to 3 dB in the reflected optical power were measured.