Micro-fluidics and integrated optics glass sensor for in-line micro-probing of nuclear samples

We study the miniaturization of Thermal Lens Spectrometry (TLS) towards Lab-on-chip integration in order to reduce the volume of fluid assays in nuclear process control. TLS is of great interest in this context since it combines the advantages of optical detection methods with an inherent suitabilit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on nuclear science 2012-08, Vol.59 (4)
Main Authors: Schimpf, A., Bucci, D., Broquin, J.E., Canto, F., Magnaldo, A., Couston, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ABSORPTION
BOROSILICATE GLASS
CONTROL
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
INTERFEROMETERS
ION EXCHANGE
MINIATURIZATION
NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
REFRACTIVE INDEX
REPROCESSING
SENSITIVITY
SENSORS
SPENT FUELS
VOLUME
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Summary:We study the miniaturization of Thermal Lens Spectrometry (TLS) towards Lab-on-chip integration in order to reduce the volume of fluid assays in nuclear process control. TLS is of great interest in this context since it combines the advantages of optical detection methods with an inherent suitability for small-scale samples. After validating the experimental principle in a classical thermal lens crossed-beam setup, we show the integration of a Young-interferometer with a microcapillary on a glass substrate, reducing the necessary sample size to 400 nl. The interferometer translates the photo-thermally induced refractive index change in the fluid to a phase shift of the fringe pattern, which can then be detected by a camera. Measurements of Co(II) in ethanol yield a detection limit of c = 5 x 10{sup -4} M for the crossed-beam setup and c = 6 x 10{sup -3} M for the integrated sensor. At an interaction length of 10 m, it detects a minimum absorbance of K = 1.2 x 10{sup -4} in a probed volume of 14 pl. (authors)
ISSN:0018-9499
1558-1578
DOI:10.1109/TNS.2012.2205704