Surface Functionalization Utilizing Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced Evanescent-Field Mid-Infrared Waveguide Gas Sensing

Husseini, Diana Al; Karanth, Yashaswini; Zhou, Junchao; Willhelm, Daniel; Qian, Xiaofeng; Gutierrez‐Osuna, Ricardo; Coté, Gerard L.; Lin, Pao Tai; Sukhishvili, Svetlana A.

doi:10.3390/coatings11020118

Cited by 13 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Note that significant methane detection could not be attained using unmodified coatings, as shown experimentally and theoretically in our previous work due to the polar nature of the MSN coatings. [ 21,22 ] Additionally, the chosen conditions for the nanocoatings were further confirmed using the mode intensity of the MIR light passing through the WG. As shown in Figure S5, Supporting Information, 1 h of treatment produces sufficient intensity; however, when the number of bilayers is >3, the mode intensity significantly drops.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[ 27 ] NPs had an average diameter of 159 nm ± 32 nm. [ 22 ] To assemble the MSN‐based coatings via LbL at the controlled substrate withdrawal speed, branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) was used as a polymer partner. Having BPEI as a partner provides (1) electrostatic interactions between protonated amino groups of BPEI and negative charge of silane groups of MSNs and (2) dense adsorbed layers for MSNs to “stick” to loopy BPEI chains formed at basic pH.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[ 31,32 ] In contrast, LbL coating assemblies at commonly used conditions with withdrawal speeds higher than 0.001 cm s −1 led to patchy depositions of MSNs. [ 22 ]…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Silane‐Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanocoatings for Selective Mid‐Infrared Waveguide‐Based Gas Sensing

Husseini

Zhou

et al. 2022

Adv Materials Inter

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This paper reports the use of silane monolayers of different polarities to enable recognition and selective interfacial enrichment of nonpolar versus polar gases for spectroscopic mid‐infrared (MIR) on‐chip sensing. However, detection of gases using on‐chip waveguides (WGs) is challenging because of the low concentrations of gas molecules within the evanescent field surrounding the WGs. To solve this issue, high‐surface‐area, precisely‐controlled‐thickness nanocoatings are introduced whose surface modification with strategically selected silanes enables control of preferential adsorption and concentration of polar versus nonpolar gas analytes. Conformal nanocoatings are constructed using layer‐by‐layer deposition of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) at substrate withdrawal speeds controlled within the capillary regime. Surface modification of the WG‐immobilized MSNs with hydrophobic triethoxy(octyl)silane enables, for the first time, enhanced sensitivity and selectivity towards nonpolar methane gas as compared to its polar counterpart acetone. On the other hand, modification of the nanocoatings with (3‐aminopropyl)triethoxysilane leads to preferential binding of polar acetone vapors. This work demonstrates the capability of interfacial modification for controlling the selection and enhancement of the spectroscopic features of gas analytes with different polarities. The developed interfacial assemblies can enable diverse spectroscopic gas sensing platforms for applications in health diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and process control.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Silane‐Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanocoatings for Selective Mid‐Infrared Waveguide‐Based Gas Sensing

Husseini

Zhou

et al. 2022

Adv Materials Inter

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“…In the future, our waveguide sensitivity can be further increased with the use of slot waveguides and nanoparticles 39 , 40 . Specifically, our previous work has shown a 10–15 times enhancement of the sensitivity by coating nanoparticles on the device surface 41 , 42 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of volatile organic compounds using mid-infrared silicon nitride waveguide sensors

Zhou

Husseini

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Mid-infrared (mid-IR) sensors consisting of silicon nitride (SiN) waveguides were designed and tested to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs). SiN thin films, prepared by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), have a broad mid-IR transparent region and a lower refractive index (nSiN = 2.0) than conventional materials such as Si (nSi = 3.4), which leads to a stronger evanescent wave and therefore higher sensitivity, as confirmed by a finite-difference eigenmode (FDE) calculation. Further, in-situ monitoring of three VOCs (acetone, ethanol, and isoprene) was experimentally demonstrated through characteristic absorption measurements at wavelengths λ = 3.0–3.6 μm. The SiN waveguide showed a five-fold sensitivity improvement over the Si waveguide due to its stronger evanescent field. To our knowledge, this is the first time SiN waveguides are used to perform on-chip mid-IR spectral measurements for VOC detection. Thus, the developed waveguide sensor has the potential to be used as a compact device module capable of monitoring multiple gaseous analytes for health, agricultural and environmental applications.

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“…Modification with hybrid coatings based on polyelectrolytes and silicon nanoparticles improves the sensitivity by increasing the adsorption area and, thus, allows the determination of lower concentrations of volatile organic compounds. [ 28 ] Interfaces, using photochemical or electrochemical stimuli, can change the pH locally. Such pH‐sensitive layers can be successfully used to obtain freestanding films.…”

Section: Layer‐by‐layer Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Progress of Layer‐by‐layer Assembly, Free‐Standing Film and Hydrogel Based on Polyelectrolytes

Ivanov

Pershina

Nikolaev

et al. 2021

Macromolecular Bioscience

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Nowadays, polyelectrolytes play an essential role in the development of new materials. Their use allows creating new properties of materials and surfaces and vary them in a wide range. Basically, modern methods are divided into three areas—the process of layer‐by‐layer deposition, free‐standing films, and hydrogels based on polyelectrolytes. Layer‐by‐layer assembly of polyelectrolytes on various surfaces is a powerful technique. It allows giving surfaces new properties, for example, protect them from corrosion. Free‐standing films are essential tools for the design of membranes and sensors. Hydrogels based on polyelectrolytes have recently shown their applicability in electrical and materials science. The creation of new materials and components with controlled properties can be achieved using polyelectrolytes. This review focuses on new technologies that have been developed with polyelectrolytes over the last five years.

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Surface Functionalization Utilizing Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced Evanescent-Field Mid-Infrared Waveguide Gas Sensing

Cited by 13 publications

References 56 publications

Silane‐Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanocoatings for Selective Mid‐Infrared Waveguide‐Based Gas Sensing

Silane‐Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanocoatings for Selective Mid‐Infrared Waveguide‐Based Gas Sensing

Detection of volatile organic compounds using mid-infrared silicon nitride waveguide sensors

Recent Progress of Layer‐by‐layer Assembly, Free‐Standing Film and Hydrogel Based on Polyelectrolytes

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