What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to develop a fiber optic sensor for the accurate detection of acetone using Co3O4 nanoparticles.

April 8, 2026Open Access

CVE-assisted Co3O4 nanoparticle-coated optical fiber sensor for acetone detection

Puntos clave

This research aims to develop a fiber optic sensor for the accurate detection of acetone using Co3O4 nanoparticles.
Characterization of cobalt oxide nanoparticles via coprecipitation with cobalt acetate and NaOH.
Optimization of a chemical vapor etching (CVE) method for coating Co3O4 on single-mode fiber (SMF).
Material characterization using SEM, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and DLS to evaluate nanoparticle properties.
Development of an optical sensor setup with microcontroller for measuring acetone concentrations.
Achieved a current output of 0.48 μA at 0.5 ppm acetone, rising to 2.6 μA at 12 ppm.
Demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.18 μA/ppm with 3% non-linearity.
CVE pretreatment improved the uniformity of nanoparticle coating compared to traditional dip coating.

Resumen

In this paper, an acetone sensor based on a single-mode fiber (SMF) coated with cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) nanoparticles is characterized. Different methods were explored for coating Co₃O₄ nanoparticles on SMF, and a chemical vapor etching (CVE) method was optimized to yield a functionalized SMF. The Co₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized via coprecipitation using cobalt acetate and NaOH. SEM analysis showed that CVE pretreatment created a distinct surface morphology, enabling a more uniform and homogeneous nanoparticle coating compared to the dip coating method. Extensive material characterization methods such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis, and scanning electron microscope (SEM), are utilized to analyze and evaluate structural stability and homogeneous distribution with optical properties of the nanoparticles and their applicability in breath analysis. A customized sensor characterization setup has been designed for acetone sensing. An optical coupler injects light into the fiber, while another directs the transmitted signal to a photodiode, which converts it into an electrical current varying with acetone concentration. This signal is processed by a microcontroller (Arduino/ESP-32). The output current increases from 0. 48 A at 0. 5 ppm to 2. 6 A at 12 ppm, yielding a sensitivity of 0. 18 A/ppm with 3% non-linearity. The sensor offers a low-cost, high-performance solution for acetone detection for early diagnosis and health monitoring, supporting sustainable healthcare and innovation.

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