Distributed fiber optical sensing of oxygen with optical time domain reflectometry

Sensors (Basel). 2013 May 31;13(6):7170-83. doi: 10.3390/s130607170.

Abstract

In many biological and environmental applications spatially resolved sensing of molecular oxygen is desirable. A powerful tool for distributed measurements is optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) which is often used in the field of telecommunications. We combine this technique with a novel optical oxygen sensor dye, triangular-[4] phenylene (TP), immobilized in a polymer matrix. The TP luminescence decay time is 86 ns. The short decay time of the sensor dye is suitable to achieve a spatial resolution of some meters. In this paper we present the development and characterization of a reflectometer in the UV range of the electromagnetic spectrum as well as optical oxygen sensing with different fiber arrangements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coloring Agents / chemistry
  • Fiber Optic Technology
  • Oxygen / analysis*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet*

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Polymers
  • Oxygen