Automated Platform to the Deposition of Thin-Films and Characterization Process in Fiber Optics Sensors

Abstract

In the recent years the instrumentation has focused its development in devices fabricated in fiber optic applied as sensors; these devices are useful to monitorate physical, chemical and biological variables. By the previous, it is necessary its deposition of a thin- film sensible to temperature, humidity, pH, glucose, etc. There are two technics to deposit this into a fiber optic sensor: dip-coating and layer-by-layer. In both cases, is mandatory the application of a automated plataform to manipulate the fiber optic structure when it is immersed into the films to its depositon and the subsequent characterization in different liquid mediums; applying rutines stablished by times, positions and repetitions. The previous has been developed into a Robot X-Y, controlled by LabVIEW and its hardware MyRIO with an electronic arquitecture of low cost devices; also was applied the 3D impresion based on "open software" to design utensils to manipulate the devices and materials.