Towards label-free distributed fiber hydrogen sensor with stimulated Raman spectroscopy

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel label-free distributed fiber hydrogen sensor using stimulated Raman spectroscopy in hollow-core photonic crystal fibers, enabling high-sensitivity, selective, and distributed chemical analysis without traditional metallic coatings.

Contribution

It introduces a new paradigm of distributed Raman measurement for fiber sensors, eliminating the need for metallic labels and enhancing hydrogen detection capabilities.

Findings

Demonstrates effective hydrogen detection in optical fibers

Achieves high sensitivity and selectivity in hydrogen sensing

Operates in the optical telecommunication band

Abstract

Hydrogen detection is of great importance in chemical and energy industries. Optical fiber hydrogen sensors show flexibility and compactness and have the potential for distributed analysis. However, traditional fiber sensors encounter a challenge for light to interact with hydrogen directly since hydrogen only display weak quadrupole absorption, and metallic palladium and platinum thin-film coatings are typically used as an optically detectable label. Here, based on stimulated Raman spectroscopy in hollow-core photonic crystal fibers, we investigate the label-free optical fiber distributed hydrogen sensors operating in the optical telecommunication band. The approach of distributed Raman measurement represents a new paradigm in fiber sensors, potentially allowing distributed chemical analysis in gas or liquid phase with high sensitivity and selectivity.