Development of optofluidic ring resonator based chemical vapor sensing platform

Yuze Sun; Jing Liu; Greg Frye-Mason; Aaron Thompson; Shiou-Jyh Ja; Xudong Fan

doi:10.1117/12.818264

29 April 2009 Development of optofluidic ring resonator based chemical vapor sensing platform

Yuze Sun, Jing Liu, Greg Frye-Mason, Aaron Thompson, Shiou-Jyh Ja, Xudong Fan

Proceedings Volume 7322, Photonic Microdevices/Microstructures for Sensing; 73220E (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.818264
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2009, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

We develop a novel chemical vapor sensing platform based on optofluidic ring resonator (OFRR) for rapid and on-column detection and analysis of a wide range of chemical vapors. The OFRR is a thin-walled fused-silica capillary with a diameter of ~100 μm and a few centimeters in length. The circular cross-section of the OFRR defines a ring resonator that supports high-Q (>10⁶) whispering gallery modes or circulating waveguide modes (WGMs). Polymer thin film is coated on the OFRR capillary interior surface as a vapor sensitive material. The unique structure of the OFRR achieves dual-use of the capillary as the gas delivery channel and as the sensing transducer, avoiding the necessity of building extra gas detection chambers commonly seen in chemical vapor sensors. When vapor molecules pass through the OFRR, the interaction between vapor molecules and the polymer causes polymer refractive index and thickness to change, which leads to a WGM spectral shift. Therefore, by monitoring the WGMs spectrum in time, the quantitative and kinetic information regarding vapor molecule-polymer interaction is acquired. The rapid detection of methanol and hexane vapors representing polar and nonpolar analytes respectively are demonstrated with OFRR vapor sensors. Owing to the unique multipoint on-column detection capability, the OFRR vapor sensor is studied for the development of the micro- GC gas analyzer. Efficient separation and rapid detection are achieved by a few centimeters long OFRR capillary coated with a stationary phase polymer. We further explore the capability of OFRR micro-GC for more challenging explosive detection. The OFRR vapor sensing platform is a promising candidate for the development of rapid, sensitive, simple, portable, and cost-effective micro-gas sensors.

Citation Download Citation

Yuze Sun, Jing Liu, Greg Frye-Mason, Aaron Thompson, Shiou-Jyh Ja, and Xudong Fan "Development of optofluidic ring resonator based chemical vapor sensing platform", Proc. SPIE 7322, Photonic Microdevices/Microstructures for Sensing, 73220E (29 April 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.818264

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