A compact hydrogen sensor based on the fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometer

Abstract We report an optical fiber hydrogen sensor based on the Fabry-Perot interferometer formed by inserting two ceramic ferrules, one with a flat fiber end facet and the other with a commercial Pd film on their tip, into a matched ceramic sleeve. The response time and sensitivity of the proposed hydrogen sensor are investigated both theoretically and experimentally. A response time of 185 s and a sensitivity of 1.44 nm/% have been obtained. In addition, the resolution and repeatability are investigated experimentally. A resolution of 500 ppm and a good repeatability have been demonstrated. The proposed sensor is compact, easy in fabrication, low cost and has a high potential for hydrogen detection.