Experimental Measurements of the Sensitivity of Fiber-optic Bragg Grating Sensors with a Soft Polymeric Coating under Mechanical Loading,Thermal and Magnetic under Cryogenic Conditions

The strain and temperature sensing performance of fiber-optic Bragg gratings （FBGs） with soft polymeric coating, which can be used to sense internal strain in superconducting coils, are evaluated under variable cryogenic field and magnetic field. The response to a temperature and strain change of coated-soft polymeric FBGs is tested by comparing with those of coated-metal FBGs. The results indicate that the coated-soft polymeric FBGs can freely detect temperature and thermal strain, their At variable magnetic field, the tested results indicate accuracy and repeatability are also discussed in detail. that the cross-coupling effects of FBGs with different matrixes are not negligible to measure electromagnetic strain during fast excitation. The present results are expected to be able to provide basis measurements on the strain of pulsed superconducting magnet/cable （cable- around-conduit conductors, cable-in-conduit conductors）, independently or utilized together with other strain measurement methods.

A switchable high-sensitivity strain sensor based on piezotronic resonant tunneling junctions

Developing emerging technologies in Internet of Things and artificial intelligence requires high-speed, low-power, high-sensitivity, and switchable-functionality strain sensors capable of sensing subtle mechanical stimuli in complex ambience. Resonant tunneling diodes (RTDs) are the good candidate for such sensing applications due to the ultrafast transport process, lower tunneling current, and negative differential resistance. However, notably enhancing sensing sensitivity remains one of the greatest challenges for RTD-related strain sensors. Here, we use piezotronic effect to improve sensing performance of strain sensors in double-barrier ZnO nanowire RTDs. This strain sensor not only possesses an ultrahigh gauge factor (GF) 390 GPa^(−1), two orders of magnitude higher than these reported RTD-based strain sensors, but also can switch the sensitivity with a GF ratio of 160 by adjusting bias voltage in a small range of 0.2 V. By employing Landauer–Büttiker quantum transport theory, we uncover two primary factors governing piezotronic modulation of resonant tunneling transport, i.e., the strain-mediated polarization field for manipulation of quantized subband levels, and the interfacial polarization charges for adjustment of space charge region. These two mechanisms enable strain to induce the negative differential resistance, amplify the peak-valley current ratio, and diminish the resonant bias voltage. These performances can be engineered by the regulation of bias voltage, temperature, and device architectures. Moreover, a strain sensor capable of electrically switching sensing performance within sensitive and insensitive regimes is proposed. This study not only offers a deep insight into piezotronic modulation of resonant tunneling physics, but also advances the RTD towards highly sensitive and multifunctional sensor applications.

Electronic Nose with an Air Sensor Matrix for Detecting Beef Freshness

China is one of the largest meat producing countries in the wodd. With the growing concern for food safety more attention has been paid to meat quality. The application of conventional test methods for meat quality is limited by many factors, and subjectiveness, such as longer time to prepare samples and to test. A sensor matrix was constructed with several separate air sensors, and tests were conducted to detect the freshness of the beef. The results show that the air sensors TGS2610, TGS2600, TGS2611, TGS2620 and TGS2602 made by Tianjin Figaro Electronic Co, Ltd could be used to determine the degree of freshness but TGS2442 is not suitable. This study provides a foundation for designing and making an economical and practical detector for beef freshness.

Highly Sensitive Fiber-Optic Faraday-Effect Magnetic Field Sensor Based on Yttrium Iron Garnet

The principle and performance of a fiber-optic Faraday-effect magnetic-field sensor based on an yttrium iron garnet (YIG) and two flux concentrations are described. A single polarization-maintaining optical fiber links the sensor head to the source and detection system, in which the technique of phase shift cancellation is used to cancel the phase shift that accumulatein the optical fiber. Flux concentrators were exploited to enhance the YIG crystal magneto-optic sensitivity .The sensor system exhibited a noise-equivalent field of 8 pT/√Hz and a 3 dB bandwidth of ～10 MHz.

Engineering high-performance dielectric chiral shells with enhanced chiral fields for sensitive chiral biosensor

Chiral metamaterials have been a topic of significant research interest in recent years due to their potential for various applications in nanophotonic devices and chiral biosensors.However,the intrinsic Ohmic loss in surface plasmonic resonance has limited their practical use,resulting in large light dissipation and weak chiroptical resonance.Here,we report on the development of high-performance dielectric chiral shells(DCS)through a two-step Si deposition process on a self-assembled microsphere monolayer.The form DCS sample completely oyercomes the cancelation effect originated from the disorder property of the micro-sphere monolayer in macroscale,and at a wavelength of approximately 710 nm,the measured optimal chiral signal(g-factor)and transmittance can reach up to 0.7 and 0.3,respectively.The strong chiroptical effect comes from the asymmetric circular displacement currents(i.e.,magnetic modes)enabled by the specific shell geometry.The chiral shell geometry,electromagnetic properties,sensor sensitivity of chiral molecules and figure of merit are systematically investigated.The DCSs demonstrate highly sensitive detection of chiral biomolecules owing to their easily accessible geometry and enhanced uniform chiral field.

Observation of saltation activity at Tazhong area in Taklimakan Desert,China

A two-year field observation of saltation activity was carried out at Tazhong area, the hinterland area of the Taklimakan Desert with highly frequent dust storms. From 1 September 2008 to 31 August 2010, a piezoelectric saltation sensor （Sensit） was used to continuously collect the data on saltation activity at a level sand surface. Analysis on the data suggests that saltation activity can occur at any time of the year when conditions are favorable; however, the necessary conditions are rarely satisfied in most time. In the daytime of spring or summer, saltation activity can persist even over a continuous one-hour-or-so period. It is found that, from 1 September 2008 to 31 August 2010, saltation activity accounts for more than 3% of the total yearly time, and it tends to peak in spring and summer months with strong winds. During winter months when winds are weak, however, it is often at a minimum. It seems that precipitation does not appear to be significant in reducing saltation activity in arid regions like Tazhong.

Fiber Bragg grating pressure sensor with enhanced sensitivity

A novel fiber Bragg grating （FBG） pressure sensor with the enhanced sensitivity has been demonstrated. A piston-like diaphragm with a hard core in the center is used to enhance the sensitivity. Both the theoretical analysis and the experimental result show that the radius of the hard core has significant effect on the pressure sensitivity. When the radius of the hard core is 1.5 mm, a pressure sensitivity of 7.23 nm/MPa has been achieved.

High sensitivity D-shaped hole fiber temperature sensor based on surface plasmon resonance with liquid filling

A high sensitivity D-shaped hole double-cladding fiber temperature sensor based on surface plasmon resonance(SPR)is designed and investigated by a full-vector finite element method.Within the D-shaped hole doublecladding fiber,the hollow D-section is coated with gold film and then injected in a high thermo-optic coefficient liquid to realize the high temperature sensitivity for the fiber SPR temperature sensor.The numerical simulation results show that the peaking loss of the D-shaped hole double-cladding fiber SPR is hugely influenced by the distance between the D-shaped hole and fiber core and by the thickness of the gold film,but the temperature sensitivity is almost insensitive to the above parameters.When the thermo-optic coefficient is -2.8×10^(-4)∕℃,the thickness of the gold film is 47 nm,and the distance between the D-shaped hole and fiber core is 5μm,the temperature sensitivity of the D-shaped hole fiber SPR sensor can reach to -3.635 nm∕℃.

Optical Properties of High Sensitivity Fiber Bragg Grating on Temperature Sensor

In this paper, the spectrum shift properties of the center reflection wavelength detected to be based on the FBG sensor with ambient temperature change. The basic theoretical methods and numerical simulation for the spectral properties of uniform Bragg grating is analyzed by using coupling mode theory which is optical properties of high sensitivity fiber Bragg grating on temperature sensor in accordance with experiment.

Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles onto Sepiolite Needles and Determination of Their Sensitivity toward Humidity, NO_2 and H_2

This work investigated the sensitivity toward humidity, NO2 and H2 of ZnO modified sepiolite （Si12Mg8O30（OH）4.（H2O）4.8H2O）. To this aim, sepiolite powder was first modified by leaching magnesium ions in HCI then by precipitating nano-sized Zn-based compounds under basic conditions. A subse- quent thermal treatment at 550 ℃ for 1 h was performed. The powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, specific surface area measurements, thermogravimetric and differential thermal anal- ysis and field emission scanning electron microscopy, as well as high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The XRD patterns showed that all leached heat treated samples were made of anhydrous sepiolite and of ZnO. Sensors were then obtained by screen printing these materials onto commercial alumina substrates with Pt electrodes. All the investigated compositions were capable of detecting NO2 down to ppm level and 20 ppm H2, at an optimal working temperature of 300°C. These detection limits are in line with the current best results reported in literature.

Temperature characteristics research of SOI pressure sensor based on asymmetric base region transistor

Based on the asymmetric base region transistor, a pressure sensor with temperature compensation circuit is proposed in this paper. The pressure sensitive structure of the proposed sensor is constructed by a C-type silicon cup and a Wheatstone bridge with four piezoresistors（R_1, R_2, R_3 and R_4/locating on the edge of a square silicon membrane. The chip was designed and fabricated on a silicon on insulator（SOI） wafer by micro electromechanical system（MEMS） technology and bipolar transistor process. When the supply voltage is 5.0 V, the corresponding temperature coefficient of the sensitivity（TCS） for the sensor before and after temperature compensation are -1862 and -1067 ppm/℃, respectively. Through varying the ratio of the base region resistances r_1 and r_2, the TCS for the sensor with the compensation circuit is -127 ppm/℃. It is possible to use this compensation circuit to improve the temperature characteristics of the pressure sensor.