For some time now, the journal Cellulose has reported on research by Finnish scientists, who discussed the creation of optical fibers from cellulose. The idea to create light-conducting fiber structures first took shape in 1910. Many decades later, fiber optic cables became an everyday reality and an indispensable means of energy-efficient information transmission over thousands of kilometers.
The optical fiber made by Finnish scientists from cellulose is not suitable for telecommunications purposes. Its light attenuation is too high — up to 6.3 dB per centimeter in open air for a wavelength of 1300 nm. In water, the attenuation increased to 30 dB per centimeter. However, this very property has proven to be the most in demand. Such cellulose-based optical fibers, due to their inherent ability to absorb moisture, will be a valuable and convenient solution for measuring humidity.
The world of smart sensors and Internet-connected devices may receive flexible, extensive, and simple, as well as energy-efficient sensors for measuring humidity. Such solutions can be embedded in the foundations of buildings and structures to monitor moisture levels in monolithic structures, for instance, to control flood and groundwater levels. Wearable electronics can be enhanced with body and clothing humidity sensors, which will be useful in everyday life for monitoring the condition of small children and for outdoor enthusiasts.
Optical fibers made from plastic materials have already secured a niche for sensors collecting seismic data, including even and particularly loud noises in city streets (gunshots, sounds of accidents, and similar events). With the advent of cellulose-based optical fibers, the scope of flexible, heat-resistant, and durable optical cables will expand to include humidity monitoring, which plastic optical fibers are fundamentally unable to accomplish.
Kilde: 3dnews.ru
