TY - JOUR
T1 - Optical acetone vapor sensors based on chiral nematic liquid crystals and reactive chiral dopants
AU - Cachelin, P.
AU - Green, J.P.
AU - Peijs, T.
AU - Heeney, M.
AU - Bastiaansen, C.W.M.
PY - 2016/4/1
Y1 - 2016/4/1
N2 - Accurate monitoring of exposure to organic vapors, such as acetone, is an important part of maintaining a safe working environment and adhering to long- and short-term exposure limits. Here, a novel acetone vapor detection system is described based on the use of a reactive chiral dopant in a nematic liquid crystal thin film, which can accurately monitor the total exposure over a given time frame through changes in the reflection band of the film. It is found that films exposed to 1000 parts per million by volume (ppmv) of acetone vapor for 2 h exhibit a shift in reflection band of 12 nm, with smaller shifts observed at lower concentrations of acetone. Such sensors have potential applications in industrial hygiene. A novel sensor based on a chiral nematic liquid crystal doped with a reactive dopant is fabricated and investigated. It is found that the sensor acts as a real-time integrator, responding to the total acetone dose by changing the wavelength of the reflection maximum of the chiral nematic liquid crystal. The sensitivity and cross-sensitivity of the sensor are investigated.
AB - Accurate monitoring of exposure to organic vapors, such as acetone, is an important part of maintaining a safe working environment and adhering to long- and short-term exposure limits. Here, a novel acetone vapor detection system is described based on the use of a reactive chiral dopant in a nematic liquid crystal thin film, which can accurately monitor the total exposure over a given time frame through changes in the reflection band of the film. It is found that films exposed to 1000 parts per million by volume (ppmv) of acetone vapor for 2 h exhibit a shift in reflection band of 12 nm, with smaller shifts observed at lower concentrations of acetone. Such sensors have potential applications in industrial hygiene. A novel sensor based on a chiral nematic liquid crystal doped with a reactive dopant is fabricated and investigated. It is found that the sensor acts as a real-time integrator, responding to the total acetone dose by changing the wavelength of the reflection maximum of the chiral nematic liquid crystal. The sensitivity and cross-sensitivity of the sensor are investigated.
KW - Acetone vapor
KW - Chemosensors
KW - Chiral nematic liquid crystals
KW - Sensors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84953207364&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/adom.201500549
DO - 10.1002/adom.201500549
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84953207364
VL - 4
SP - 592
EP - 596
JO - Advanced Optical Materials
JF - Advanced Optical Materials
SN - 2195-1071
IS - 4
ER -