Highly sensitive temperature and humidity sensor based on carbon nanotube-assisted mismatched single-mode fiber structure

Abstract

Here we report on a miniaturized optical interferometer in one fiber based on two mismatched nodes. The all-fiber structure shows stable performance of temperature and humidity sensing. For temperature sensing in large ranges, from 40 to 100 °C, the sensor has a sensitivity of 0.24 dB/°C, and the adjusted R-squared value of fitting result reaches 0.99461 which shows a reliable sensing result. With carbon nanotubes coating the surface of the fiber, the temperature sensitivity is enhanced from 0.24561 to 1.65282 dB/°C in a small region, and the performance of humidity sensing becomes more linear and applicable. The adjusted R-squared value of the linear fitting line for humidity sensing shows a dramatic increase from 0.71731 to 0.92278 after carbon nanotube coating, and the humidity sensitivity presents 0.02571 nm/%RH.