Stage

Second Year MSc or MEng Internship proposal on Optical fiber sensitized materials for methane sensing

Équipes / Services concernés

Responsables

Han Cheng Seat / Ardi Rahman

Date de publication

12.01.25

Prise de poste souhaitée

17.03.25

Optical fiber sensitized materials for methane sensing

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, plays a significant role in climate change, thus rendering its accurate and reliable monitoring essential. As part of the ANR FRAME initiative, we are developing a fiber optic refractometer capable of detecting dissolved methane gas in challenging aquatic environments by utilizing optical fiber technology to detect changes in refractive index. To achieve this, supramolecular material such as Cryptophane-A, combined with its host polymer, will be used as sensitized material to coat the optical fiber sensor, enabling methane capture through Van der Waals forces. The design merges both multimode and capillary optical fibers to ensure high resolution and high sensitivity.

Fig_FiberCoating

The primary goal of this internship is to conduct a study on the effectiveness of Cryptophane-A for methane detection and performing comprehensive laboratory-level characterization of methane sensing with optical fiber refractometers.

Tasks and objectives of the internship:

- Conducting a literature review on optical materials with specific refractive indices, the effectiveness of Cryptophane-A for methane detection, and material interactions (e.g., host polymer + solvent + Cryptophane-A) using textbooks and research publications.

- Elaborating sensitized materials and perform coating on optical fibers to function as methane-specific refractometers (at LAAS-CNRS clean room).

- Performing laboratory tests to characterize the optical fiber refractometer’s performance in methane gas detection.

Working environment:

The candidate will integrate at the Optical Sensors and Smart Integrated Systems research group (OASIS) of LAAS-CNRS, located at the ENSEEIHT site in Toulouse. He / She will be working under the supervision of our Ph.D. student and post-doctoral research fellow who are at the forefront of the optical fiber refractometer technology development within our research group.

Desired competences and personality:

- knowledge in one or several of the following topics: chemistry, polymer, material science, physics, nanotechnology, electro-optics background will be an advantage.

- ability to work in a research team

- autonomy and a keen sense of problem solving

- strong interest in research in physics and engineering, with good analytical and learning ability

Important information:

  • Please send your CV and motivation letter to

- Ardi Rahman (arahman@laas.fr) or

- Dr Han Cheng SEAT (hcseat@laas.fr)

  • Internship duration: 4 – 6 months
  • Monthly allowance: 640€
  • Interview date: January-February 2025
  • Preferred start date: middle to end of March 2025

References :

[1] Apriyanto, Haris, et al. "Optical fiber methane sensor using refractometry." 2019 IEEE Sensors. IEEE, 2019. Link.

[2] Apriyanto, Haris, et al., “Comprehensive Modeling of Multimode Fiber Sensors for Refractive Index Measurement and Experimental Validation,” Sci. Rep., vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 1–13, 2018, doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-24153-0. Link.

[3] C. Boulart, M. C. Mowlem, D. P. Connelly, J.-P. Dutasta, and C. R. German, “A novel, low-cost, high performance dissolved methane sensor for aqueous environments,” Opt. Express, vol. 16, no. 17, p. 12607, 2008, doi: 10.1364/oe.16.012607. Link.

[4] Rahman, Ardi, et al. "Experimental Investigation of Microstructured and Capillary Optical Fibers for Refractive Index Measurement from 1.316 to 1.425 RIU." 2024 IEEE SENSORS. IEEE, 2024. Link.