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Moisture sensor based on evanescent wave light scattering by porous sol-gel silica coating

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1175727
; ;
An optical fiber moisture sensor that can be used to sense moisture present in gas phase in a wide range of concentrations is provided, as well techniques for making the same. The present invention includes a method that utilizes the light scattering phenomenon which occurs in a porous sol-gel silica by coating an optical fiber core with such silica. Thus, a porous sol-gel silica polymer coated on an optical fiber core forms the transducer of an optical fiber moisture sensor according to an embodiment. The resulting optical fiber sensor of the present invention can be used in various applications, including to sense moisture content in indoor/outdoor air, soil, concrete, and low/high temperature gas streams.
Research Organization:
Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FC26-98FT40395
Assignee:
Mississippi State University (Mississippi State, MS)
Patent Number(s):
7,037,554
Application Number:
10/608,228
OSTI ID:
1175727
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (13)

Theory of fiber-optic, evanescent-wave spectroscopy and sensors journal January 1996
7. Light Scattering and Other Optical Methods book January 1999
Optical-fiber sensor for determining water content in organic solvents journal April 2001
Design of a Neutron Gauge for the Detection and Measurement of Water Ingression in Flat Roofs journal September 1991
Fiber optic technique for relative humidity sensors conference February 1997
Fiber optic evanescent field absorption sensor: Effect of fiber parameters and geometry of the probe journal January 1999
Static and dynamic evanescent wave light scattering studies of diblock copolymers adsorbed at the air/water interface journal November 1993
Weakly Guiding Fibers journal January 1971
High dynamic range fiber optic relative humidity sensor journal May 2002
Zinc(II) oxide-zinc(II) molybdate composite humidity sensor journal January 2002
Using Microwave Measurements to Detect Moisture in Asphaltic Concrete journal January 1992
Porous solgel fiber as a transducer for highly sensitive chemical sensing journal January 2002
Sol–gels with fiber‐optic chemical sensor potential: Effects of preparation, aging, and long‐term storage journal August 1995

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