Chemical Sensors Based on Distributed Bragg Reflector Porous Silicon Smart Particles

Abstract

Sensing characteristics for porous smart particle based on DBR smart particles were reported. Optically encoded porous silicon smart particles were successfully fabricated from the free-standing porous silicon thin films using ultrasono-method. DBR PSi was prepared by an electrochemical etch of heavily doped p ++ -type silicon wafer. DBR PSi was prepared by using a periodic pseudo-square wave current. The surface-modified DBR PSi was prepared by either thermal oxidation or thermal hydrosilylation. Free-standing DBR PSi films were generated by lift-off from the silicon wafer substrate using an electropolishing current. Free-standing DBR PSi films were ultrasonicated to create DBR-structured porous smart particles. Three different surface-modified DBR smart particles have been prepared and used for sensing volatile organic vapors. For different types of surface-modified DBR smart particles, the shift of reflectivity mainly depends on the vapor pressure of analyte even though the surfaces of DBR smart particles are different. However huge difference in the shift of reflectivity depending on the different types of surface-modified DBR smart particles was obtained when the vapor pressures are quite similar which demonstrate a possible sensing application to specify the volatile organic vapors.