Pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes are a versatile, safe and easy-to-use solution for fastening, sealing, masking, or joining. They are widely employed in daily life, from domestic use to industrial applications in sectors such as construction and the automotive industry. In recent years, PSA tapes have found a place in the field of micro- and nanotechnology, particularly in contact transfer techniques where they can be used as either sacrificial layers or flexible substrates. As a consequence, various optical sensing configurations based on PSA tapes have been developed. In this paper, recent achievements related to the use of PSA tapes as functional and integral parts of optical sensors are reviewed. These include refractive index sensors, optomechanical sensors and vapor sensors.
Keywords: flexible photonics; optical sensor; optomechanical sensor; polymer; pressure sensitive adhesive tape; refractive index sensor; vapor sensor; waveguide.