A DISTRIBUTED FIBER OPTIC SENSOR FOR REVERSIBLE DETECTION OFATMOSPHERIC CO2

PHASE I OF THIS PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A DISTRIBUTED FIBER OPTIC SENSOR INCORPORATING IMMOBILIZED TRANSITION METAL COMPLEXES COMPATIBLE WITH ACHIEVING BOTH SELECTIVE AND REVERSIBLE DETECTION OF ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2). THE ADOPTED STRATEGY RELIES ON THE DETECTION OF OPTICAL CHANGES INDUCED ON A FIBER OPTIC SUBSTRATE BY TRANSITION METAL COMPLEXES THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED PREVIOUS EVIDENCE FORBOTH CAUSING REVERSIBLE CO2 BINDING AND INDUCING A DETECTABLE OPTICAL CHANGE. THIS DISTRIBUTED FIBER OPTIC SENSOR TECHNOLOGY POSSESSES THE INHERENT FEATURES OF (1) LOWPOWER REQUIREMENTS, (2) LIGHT WEIGHT, (3) REVERSIBILITY TO LOW CO2 CONCENTRATION, AND (4) THE ABILITY TO SIMULTANEOUSLY DETECT CO2 WITHIN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE SUBJECT TRANSITION METAL COMPLEXES IMMOBILIZED ON A FIBER OPTIC SUPPORT WILL RESULT IN AN INNOVATIVE SENSOR FOR ATMOSPHERIC CO2 MONITORING.