This paper presents a highly sensitive photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-based sensor for detecting varying concentrations of heavy metal ions, specifically Cu2⁺ and Mg2⁺, in water samples. The proposed PCF sensor features an asymmetrical arrangement of rectangular and square air holes in the cladding region, with a single rectangular core region at its center. The sensor is modeled and analyzed using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6, employing the finite element method (FEM) with a perfectly matched layer (PML) boundary condition. Zeonex is used as the fiber material. Operating at 1.6 THz, the sensor achieves unprecedented relative sensitivity exceeding 99% for both analytes across a wide concentration range (0–1.62 mol/kg). Key parameters such as confinement loss <InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="11468_2025_2980_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="23" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="201" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$\left(\mathrm{CL}\:<\:6.08\;\times10^{-14}\;\mathrm{cm}^{-1}\right)$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mfenced close=")" open="("> <mi mathvariant="normal">CL</mi> <mspace width="0.222222em" /> <mo><</mo> <mspace width="0.222222em" /> <mn>6.08</mn> <mspace width="0.277778em" /> <mo>×</mo> <msup> <mn>10</mn> <mrow> <mo>-</mo> <mn>14</mn> </mrow> </msup> <mspace width="0.277778em" /> <msup> <mrow> <mi mathvariant="normal">cm</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mo>-</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msup> </mfenced> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation> and effective material loss <InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="11468_2025_2980_Article_IEq2.gif" Format="GIF" Height="23" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="217" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$\left(\mathrm{EML}\:<\:20.34\;\times10^{-4}\;\mathrm{cm}^{-1}\right)$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mfenced close=")" open="("> <mi mathvariant="normal">EML</mi> <mspace width="0.222222em" /> <mo><</mo> <mspace width="0.222222em" /> <mn>20.34</mn> <mspace width="0.277778em" /> <mo>×</mo> <msup> <mn>10</mn> <mrow> <mo>-</mo> <mn>4</mn> </mrow> </msup> <mspace width="0.277778em" /> <msup> <mrow> <mi mathvariant="normal">cm</mi> </mrow> <mrow> <mo>-</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msup> </mfenced> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation> demonstrate compared to existing sensors. This work bridges the gap between theoretical photonic design and environmental sensing applications, offering a cost-effective alternative to conventional detection techniques.

Highly Sensitive Detection of Concentration of Heavy Metals Ions in Water Sample Using a Novel 2D Photonic Crystal Fiber with a Rectangular Core

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年4月29日

查看全文

Dana N. Alhamss,
Abdulkarem H. M. Almawgani,
Sofyan A. Taya,
Yousif S. Adam,
Hussein S. Gumaih

摘要

This paper presents a highly sensitive photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-based sensor for detecting varying concentrations of heavy metal ions, specifically Cu²⁺ and Mg²⁺, in water samples. The proposed PCF sensor features an asymmetrical arrangement of rectangular and square air holes in the cladding region, with a single rectangular core region at its center. The sensor is modeled and analyzed using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6, employing the finite element method (FEM) with a perfectly matched layer (PML) boundary condition. Zeonex is used as the fiber material. Operating at 1.6 THz, the sensor achieves unprecedented relative sensitivity exceeding 99% for both analytes across a wide concentration range (0–1.62 mol/kg). Key parameters such as confinement loss $\left(\mathrm{CL}\:<\:6.08\;\times10^{-14}\;\mathrm{cm}^{-1}\right)$ $(CL < 6.08 \times 10^{- 14} {cm}^{- 1})$ and effective material loss $\left(\mathrm{EML}\:<\:20.34\;\times10^{-4}\;\mathrm{cm}^{-1}\right)$ $(EML < 20.34 \times 10^{- 4} {cm}^{- 1})$ demonstrate compared to existing sensors. This work bridges the gap between theoretical photonic design and environmental sensing applications, offering a cost-effective alternative to conventional detection techniques.