Plasmonic Temperature Sensor Using Side-Polished Plastic Optical Fiber with Gold Coating

All-optical sensors offer promising solutions by reducing fabrication complexity, power requirements, and enabling distributed architectures. However, challenges remain in enhancing performance and reducing costs. In this study, we propose a novel temperature sensor design based on a side-polished plastic optical fiber covered with a gold layer, achieving high sensitivity of -0.09 nm/°C over a wide temperature range (10°C - 70°C). Additionally, we experimentally explore the influence of various fabrication parameters, including polishing depth, polishing length, and gold sputtering time, on sensor performance, identifying them as critical in the fabrication process. In the considered samples, we found that polishing depths between 0.18 mm and 0.33 mm and gold deposition times between 20 s and 40 s are adequate ranges, with the best performance achieved at a polishing depth of 0.32 mm and a gold sputtering time of 20 s. Our design integrates side-polished optical fibers with surface plasmon resonance sensing, providing high sensitivity and rapid response times. This will facilitate real-time temperature monitoring with high precision, even in hard-to-reach or hazardous environments. The transmission-based measurement method enhances sensor mobility and practical utility. Moreover, our approach demonstrates a simple, cost-effective fabrication process, offering significant advantages over existing surface plasmon resonance-based sensors.

Plasmonic Temperature Sensor Using Side-Polished Plastic Optical Fiber with Gold Coating Articles