Modification of fiber optic surface buffer for application on fiber optic humidity sensors

在恶劣环境中实现多点传感系统是一项艰巨的挑战。能够满足这一需求的少数解决方案之一是基于光纤布拉格光栅（FBG）技术的光纤传感器。这样的传感系统可以同时提供关于在这样恶劣的环境中的温度、压力、湿度和应变 ** 的真实的时间数据。AOMS Technology Inc.已经率先推出了此类解决方案，并确定 ** 改进其当前的湿度传感器平台为优先事项。AOMS技术湿度传感器目前是基于水凝胶涂层的纤维，当它们变形时，应变给定的FBG。水凝胶通过响应于水含量的变化而改变其尺寸，从而改变 **FBG周期，从而起到 ** 换能器的作用。传感器结构依赖于使用适当的水凝胶以及与纤维紧密结合的水凝胶。一个重要的挑战是找到一种沉积方法，将亲水性材料（水凝胶）沉积在疏水性材料（光纤的塑料缓冲层）上。为了解决这一问题，该提案集中于将缓冲层 ** 的疏水表面转变为允许亲水材料粘附的表面。具体而言，我们建议利用 ** 我们在等离子体处理方面的成熟专业知识与纳米颗粒沉积相结合，以制备适合与水凝胶层紧密结合的 ** 缓冲层涂覆的纤维。多伦多大学 **（UofT）高级纳米技术中心非常适合这项工作，拥有纳米颗粒生产和表征以及应用于纳米颗粒的电感耦合等离子体技术 ** 的必要知识。我们一直致力于新的纳米材料和应用超过二十年，并将有助于理解疏水表面的物理变化的影响 ** 所造成的包括纳米粒子的等离子体射流技术。我们预计，我们提出的解决方案可以 ** 潜在地解决AOMS湿度传感器目前的工艺缺陷，并为他们提供一条前进的道路 **，以占领这一重要市场。

Realising systems for multi-point sensing in harsh environments presents a formidable challenge. One of the**few solutions that can satisfy this need is fiber optic sensors based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) technology.**Such sensing systems can simultaneously provide real time data on temperature, pressure, humidity and strain**in such harsh environments. AOMS Technology Inc. have pioneered such solutions and have identified**improving their current humidity sensor platform a priority. AOMS Technology humidity sensors are currently**based hydrogel coated fibers which, when they deform, strain a given FBG. The hydrogel functions as a**transducer by changing its dimensions in response to a change in water content which, in turn, changes the**FBG period. The sensor architecture relies on using an appropriate hydrogel as well as the hydrogel being**intimately bound to the fiber. An important challenge has been to find a deposition methodology for materials**that are hydrophilic in nature (hydrogels) on materials that are hydrophobic (the plastic buffer of fiber optics).**In order to address this issue, this proposal focuses on transforming the hydrophobic surface of the buffer layer**into a surface that would permit the adhesion of a hydrophilic material. Specifically, we propose to leverage**our established expertise in plasma processing in combination with nanoparticle deposition to prepare the**buffer layer coated fibers suitable for intimate bonding with the hydrogel layer. The University of Toronto**(UofT) Centre for Advanced Nanotechnology is ideally suited for this work, possessing the requisite**knowledge in nanoparticle production and characterization as well as in inductively-coupled plasma techniques**applied to nanoparticles. We have been working with new nano-materials and applications for over two**decades and will contribute to the understanding of the effects of physical changes of a hydrophobic surface**caused by inclusion of nanoparticles by plasma jet technology. We anticipate that our proposed solution can**potentially address the current process shortcomings for AOMS humidity sensors and present a path forward**for them to capture this important market.