Optical sensors based on polymeric nanofibers layers created by electrospinning

Abstract

Porous materials have become ideal candidates for the creation of optical sensors
\nthat are able to reach extremely high sensitivities, due to both the possibility to infiltrate the
\ntarget substances on them and to their large surface-to-volume ratio. In this work, we present
\na new alternative for the creation of porous optical sensors based on the use of polymeric
\nnanofibers (NFs) layers fabricated by electrospinning. Polyamide 6 (PA6) NFs layers with
\naverage diameters lower than 30 nm and high porosities have been used for the creation of
\nFabry-Pérot optical sensing structures, which have shown an experimental sensitivity up to
\n1060 nm/RIU (refractive index unit). This high sensitivity, together with the low production
\ncost and the possibility to be manufactured over large areas, make NFs-based structures a
\nvery promising candidate for the development of low-cost and high performance optical
\nsensors.