Cascaded dual-parameter SPR fiber sensor for RI and pH simultaneous detection based on Ag film and an Ag/self-assembled nanofilm structure.

To achieve more accurate analysis and detection of changes in liquid parameters, we propose a dual-parameter surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor that can measure refractive index (RI) and pH simultaneously. In this paper, we compare and analyze the transmission spectrum when the SPR effect is excited by the cladding mode of a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) and the core mode of the no-core fiber. The results show that the SPR effect excited using the cladding mode is stronger and the sensor has better loss peaks, which is more conducive to realizing the detection of the external environment. Therefore, the sensor uses PCF as the substrate and utilizes a cascade composite film structure, and the area where a silver film is deposited on the surface of the PCF is selected as the RI sensing area. Another part of the PCF, after the silver film is deposited, uses a high-sensitivity polyacrylic acid/chitosan self-assembled nanofilm as the pH-sensitive film. Experimental results show that the maximum sensitivity is 4122.44 nm/RIU and -57.82 nm/pH when the RI range is between 1.333 and 1.385 and the pH range is between 3.11 and 8.63, respectively. In addition, we experimentally verified that the sensor had good stability and repeatability. The design of the sensor provides new possibilities for real-time monitoring and precise control, helping to advance scientific research and the development of industry.