In Situ Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles in Layer-by-Layer Polymeric Coatings for the Fabrication of Optical Fiber Sensors

A new method is proposed to tune the interferometric response of wavelength-based optical fiber sensors. Using the nanoparticle in situ synthesis (ISS) technique, it is possible to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) within a pre-existing polymeric thin film deposited at the end-face of an optical fiber. This post-process technique allows us to adjust the optical response of the device. The effect of the progressive synthesis of AuNPs upon polymeric film contributed to a remarkable optical contrast enhancement and a very high tuning capability of the reflection spectra in the visible and near-infrared region. The spectral response of the sensor to relative humidity (RH) variations was studied as a proof of concept. These results suggest that the ISS technique can be a useful tool for fiber optic sensor manufacturing.