Surface Plasmon Resonance-based Optical Fiber Sensors for H2S In Situ detection

Motivated by its high toxicity and presence on many industrial processes, in this work, a hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas detector was developed. The construction of the device was accomplished by taking advantage of both silica optical fiber and the potentialities of gold nanoparticles, where the physics for the plasmon resonance on localized surface are exploited. The localized surface plasmon resonance occurs in gold nanoparticles and has strong influence when the free electrons of gold suffer external perturbation. In this case, strong bonding energy between the gold element and sulfur was the main basis for the operation principle of the developed colorimetric detector. In the process of nanoparticles adhesion, polyvinyl alcohol was used on the interface between the fiber and the nanoparticles. The developed detector has the ability of detecting H2S levels in the range of 0.4 to 2.0 ppm, at room temperature. Different experiments were carried out to verify the behavior of the nanoparticle concentration at the detection limit of the gas. Thus, the proposed detector has many applications in different industrial processes and environments considering the numerous accidents caused by H2S inhalation with fatal victims already registered around the world.

Automated summary

A hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas detector was developed in this work, utilizing silica optical fiber and gold nanoparticles to achieve detection in the range of 0.4 to 2.0 ppm. The strong bonding energy between gold and sulfur was the main basis for the operation principle of the colorimetric detector.