Fluorescence-Based Aluminum Ion Sensing Using a Surface-Functionalized Microstructured Optical Fiber

The first microstructured optical fiber-based sensor platform for aluminum ions using a surface-attached derivative of lumogallion (3), a known fluorescence-based indicator, has been fabricated. These fibers allow for strong evanescent field interactions with the surrounding media because of the small core size while also providing the potential for real-time and distributed measurements. The fluorescence response to aluminum ions was first demonstrated by applying the procedure to glass slides. This was achieved through the covalent attachment of the fluorophore to a polyelectrolyte-coated glass surface and then to the internal holes of a suspended-core microstructured optical fiber to give an effective aluminum sensor. Whereas the sensor platform reported is fabricated for aluminum, the approach is versatile, with applicability to the detection of other ions.