Optical combo sensor for early diagnostics within the Built and Natural Environment

摘要

Within the Built and Natural Environment early analysis of structural conditions, air quality monitoring,pollutant and irritant detection by optical sensor technology is advancing. Combining the two technologies,Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and Surface Enhance Raman Scattering (SERS) into a single instrumentis the aim of the research, with a resulting fingerprint library of measurands being produced.The combo sensor will provide unique fingerprints of the measurands, monitoring conditions, such as thecarbonation of concrete, microbial and chemical loading and ageing effects of structures, along with theirseverity. Analysed conditions will be crossed referenced with the library allowing smart feedback for timelymaintenance.SPR and SERS work on the principle that specific surfaces, when excited by a light source passing through aglass prism, will change their rate and scale of vibration when their surface holds or is contaminated byparticular a component, in this case the monitoring condition analyte. A ligand, which binds specifically tothe monitoring analyte, is held in specialised surface coatings which are applied to the surface of the sensorglass or prism itself. The sensing takes place through detection of differences in the original laser lightsource and reflections/refractions of that light source from the glass prisms.The advances and obstacles of early research are discussed along with initial results and findings beingexamined in the development a new optical combo sensor.