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Publications

Publications by Susana Novais

2024

Linear Fiber Laser Configurations for Optical Concentration Sensing in Liquid Solutions

Authors
Soares, L; Perez-Herrera, RA; Novais, S; Ferreira, A; Silva, S; Frazao, O;

Publication
PHOTONICS

Abstract
In this study, different configurations based on linear fiber lasers were proposed and experimentally demonstrated to measure the concentration of liquid solutions. Samples of paracetamol liquid solutions with different concentrations, in the range from 52.61 to 201.33 g/kg, were used as a case-study. The optical gain was provided by a commercial bidirectional Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) and the linear cavity was obtained using two commercial Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs). The main difference of each configuration was the coupling ratio of the optical coupler used to extract the system signal. The sensing head corresponded to a Single-Mode Fiber (SMF) tip that worked as an intensity sensor. The results reveal that, despite the optical coupler used (50:50, 60:40, 70:30 or 80:20), all the configurations reached the laser condition, however, the concentration sensing was only possible using a laser drive current near to the threshold value. The configurations using a 70:30 and an 80:20 optical coupler allowed paracetamol concentration measurements with a higher sensitivity of (-3.00 +/- 0.24) pW/(g/kg) to be performed. In terms of resolution, the highest value obtained was 1.75 g/kg, when it was extracted at 20% of the output power to the linear cavity fiber laser configuration.

2024

Enhanced Sensitivity in Optical Sensors through Self-Image Theory and Graphene Oxide Coating

Authors
Cunha, C; Monteiro, C; Vaz, A; Silva, S; Frazao, O; Novais, S;

Publication
SENSORS

Abstract
This paper presents an approach to enhancing sensitivity in optical sensors by integrating self-image theory and graphene oxide coating. The sensor is specifically engineered to quantitatively assess glucose concentrations in aqueous solutions that simulate the spectrum of glucose levels typically encountered in human saliva. Prior to sensor fabrication, the theoretical self-image points were rigorously validated using Multiphysics COMSOL 6.0 software. Subsequently, the sensor was fabricated to a length corresponding to the second self-image point (29.12 mm) and coated with an 80 mu m/mL graphene oxide film using the Layer-by-Layer technique. The sensor characterization in refractive index demonstrated a wavelength sensitivity of 200 +/- 6 nm/RIU. Comparative evaluations of uncoated and graphene oxide-coated sensors applied to measure glucose in solutions ranging from 25 to 200 mg/dL showed an eightfold sensitivity improvement with one bilayer of Polyethyleneimine/graphene. The final graphene oxide-based sensor exhibited a sensitivity of 10.403 +/- 0.004 pm/(mg/dL) and demonstrated stability with a low standard deviation of 0.46 pm/min and a maximum theoretical resolution of 1.90 mg/dL.

2023

White Light Interferometry: Absolute and High Precision Measurement for Long-Cavity Fibre Fabry-Perot Sensors

Authors
Robalinho, P; Rodrigues, A; Novais, S; Ribeiro, ABL; Silva, S; Frazão, O;

Publication
EPJ Web of Conferences

Abstract
White Light Interferometry, known for its absolute measurement capability and high precision, had its greatest scientific impact towards the end of the 20th century. In this work, it was assembled and characterized a fibre Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) as an interrogator and a fibre Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) as a displacement sensor. A measurement bandwidth between 65 µm and 95 µm was obtained for FPI cavities close to 2.35 mm, at sampling frequencies between 600 Hz and 1500 Hz. Additionally, a resonant frequency at 550 Hz was achieved, allowing for an interrogation band higher than 135 µm. It was also determined a minimum absolute resolution of ± 66 nm, corresponding to a relative resolution of ± 9.4×10-4 in relation to the total band.

2023

Optical Fiber Surface Plasmon Resonance for Glucose Detection

Authors
Cunha, C; Silva, S; Coelho, LCC; Frazão, O; Novais, S;

Publication
EPJ Web of Conferences

Abstract
This work proposes a sensor that utilizes a transmission scheme for measuring glucose aqueous solutions based on surface plasmon resonance. A comparison between the performance of two sensors with similar lengths and different diameters is performed. The first sensor comprises a multimode optical fiber with a diameter of 400 µm and a 10 mm middle section of the cladding removed. The second sensor is similar, except that the fiber has a diameter of 600 µm. The sensors were evaluated for their performance in measuring glucose concentrations ranging from 0.0001 to 0.5000 g/mL. The 400 µm sensor demonstrated high sensitivity however, the sensor with a diameter of 600 µm attained a slightly higher maximum sensitivity of 322.0 nm/(g/mL).

2023

Erbium-doped fiber ring cavity assisted by an FBG and PS-FBG reflector for refractive-index measurements - INVITED

Authors
Perez-Herrera, RA; Diaz, H; Soares, L; Novais, S; Lopez-Amo, M; Silva, S; Frazão, O;

Publication
EPJ Web of Conferences

Abstract
This work presents an interrogator system based on an erbium-doped fiber ring cavity for refractive-index measurements. This fiber ring cavity is assisted by a fiber Bragg grating and a phase-shift fiber Bragg grating, both with a similar central emission wavelength to increase the output power levels.

2023

NonInvasive Glucose Fiber Sensor Based on Self-Imaging Technique: Proof of Concept

Authors
Cunha, C; Silva, S; Frazão, O; Novais, S;

Publication
EPJ Web of Conferences

Abstract
This paper proposes a proof of concept for a reflective fiber optic sensor based on multimode interference, designed to measure glucose concentrations in aqueous solutions that mimic the range of glucose concentrations found in human saliva. The sensor is fabricated by splicing a short section of coreless silica fiber into a standard single-mode fiber. By studying the principles of multimode interference and Self-imaging it was developed a sensing head that has a total length of 29.1 mm, approximately equal to the second self-image cycle. This sensing head allowed us to detect low concentrations of glucose (ranging from 0 to 268 mg/dl).

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