Optical detection of ammonia in water using integrated up-conversion fluorescence in a fiberized microsphere

A novel optical sensor for ammonia concentration in water is demonstrated using up-conversion (UC) fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR). The sensor element consists of (i) an Er 3+ -Yb 3+ co-doped tellurite glass microsphere integrated inside a section of suspended tri-core hollow fiber (STCHF) and (ii) the pH indicator phenol red. When 980 nm pump is coupled into the microsphere, the Er 3+ ions produce green and red UC emissions. Exposure to ammonia results in a strong increase in the 560 nm absorption of the phenol red, which acts as a filter for the green emission, while the red emission is unaffected. A simple linear relation between the FIR and the ammonia aqueous concentration has been established