Analytical chemistry with optical sensors

Abstract

Recent advances in opto-electronics, (fiber) optics, and optical spectroscopy have led to the development of a fascinating new chemical sensor technique. The present state of the art in optical sensing technology is briefly described in this review. Major advantages of this type of sensor over others include cheapness, ease of miniaturization and the renunciation of reference cells. Among the disadvantages, mention should be made of interference by ambient light, comparatively small analytical ranges, lack of specificity and lack of low-priced lasers. Potential fields of application include environmental control, process control (as, for instance, in chemical plants and bioreactors), remote sensing via long optical fibers or even from aircraft or satellites, and biomedical applications. Representative sensor types are described in some detail and potential future trends are discussed. © 1986 Springer-Verlag.