Graphene-Oxide and Hydrogel Coated FBG-Based pH Sensor for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

A hydrogel coated fibre grating-based pH sensor for biomedical applications has been realised, where Graphene Oxide (GO) had been used to enhance the bonding between the coating and the fibre. Two methods of deposition of GO were analysed i.e., evaporation and co-electroplating. The paper concludes that the system of GO evaporated on the fibre + the hydrogel has a sensitivity much higher, (6.1 ± 0.5) pm/pH, than the system of Cu and GO co-electroplated + the hydrogel, (1.9 ± 0.1) pm/pH, for a pH range between 2 to 10. The other conclusion is that the first system has a less coating bonding energy with the optical fibre whereas the second system has a stronger bonding energy, with better durability.