Optical fiber sensor based on lutetium bisphthalocyanine for the detection of gases using standard telecommunication wavelengths

In this work, a vapochromic material, the lutetium bisphthalocyanine (LuPc₂), whose refractive index changes in the presence of organic compound vapors such as ethanol, hexanal, n-butyl acetate, acetic acid, etc., has been used in combination with an optical fiber to fabricate an optical fiber volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor. The behavior of the sensor has been studied for the 1310 nm wavelength in the telecommunication window, with the associated advantages that this fact implies. In addition, different concentrations of volatile organic compound vapors have been tested. For instance, changes up to 10 dB in the reflected optical power have been detected for a 88 mmol/l concentration of acetic acid.