THIN-LAYER POROUS OPTICAL SENSORS FOR GASES AND OTHER FLUIDS
First Claim
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1. A method for analyzing matter comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing a liquid or gaseous matter into an optically reflective thin layer electrode, the electrode including a transparent base substrate with alumina film disposed thereon, the alumina film defining a plurality of pores therein, and a gold film disposed on the alumina film such that a quantity of the liquid or gaseous matter can enter at least one of the pores;
(b) applying a potential to the gold film such that the quantity of the liquid or gaseous matter in the pores is isolated from a remaining bulk of the liquid or gaseous matter disposed about the electrode; and
(c) directing light from a source into the electrode from proximate the base substrate in a direction of the gold film, the gold film under the potential configured to reflect the light into the quantity of the liquid or gaseous matter in the pores for analysis of the reflected light.
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Abstract
A gas sensor uses optical interferents in a porous thin film cell to measure the refractive index of the pore medium. As the medium within the pores changes, spectral variations can be detected. For example, as the pores are filled with a solution, the characteristic peaks exhibit a spectral shift in one direction. Conversely, when tiny amounts of gas are produced, the peaks shift in the opposite direction. This can be used to measure gas evolution, humidity and for applications for other interferometric-based sensing devices.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for analyzing matter comprising the steps of:
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(a) introducing a liquid or gaseous matter into an optically reflective thin layer electrode, the electrode including a transparent base substrate with alumina film disposed thereon, the alumina film defining a plurality of pores therein, and a gold film disposed on the alumina film such that a quantity of the liquid or gaseous matter can enter at least one of the pores; (b) applying a potential to the gold film such that the quantity of the liquid or gaseous matter in the pores is isolated from a remaining bulk of the liquid or gaseous matter disposed about the electrode; and (c) directing light from a source into the electrode from proximate the base substrate in a direction of the gold film, the gold film under the potential configured to reflect the light into the quantity of the liquid or gaseous matter in the pores for analysis of the reflected light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An optically reflective thin layer, comprising:
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a transparent base substrate; a film disposed on the base substrate, the film defining a plurality of pores therein; and a reflective material disposed on the film such that the pores are exposed to atmosphere, the reflective material having a specular surface for reflection of light into the pores for taking measurements of a fluid isolated therein from the atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A thin layer electrode disposed in a fluid in an atmosphere, the thin layer film comprising:
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a transparent base substrate; a thin film disposed on the base substrate, the thin film defining a plurality of pores therein; and a material disposed on the thin film such that the pores are exposed to atmosphere, the material configured to isolate a portion of the fluid in the pores from the atmosphere when a potential is applied, the material further configured for reflectance when the potential is applied to redirect into the pores an incident beam passing through the transparent base substrate into the pores in a direction of the material. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A thin layer apparatus for fluid analysis, the thin layer apparatus comprising:
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a transparent base substrate; and a thin film sputtered on the base substrate, the thin film defining a plurality of pores therein, each of the pores having a diameter of 80 nm to about 100 nm and a depth of 250 nm to about 1000 nm, the pores configured to isolate a portion of a fluid from a remainder of the fluid when immersed therein. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification