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About

About

Susana Novais is graduated in Biomedical Engineering from the Bragança Polytechnic Institute, Portugal. In 2019 she received the Ph.D. degree in Physical Engineering at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, on optical fiber sensors for challenging media. In last 5 years, she has published about 21 papers in international journal, book chapters and conference proceedings. Her field expertise is optical fiber sensors applied to the lithium ion batteries, optical fiber designs and their applications in chemically challenging media. She is currently an Assistant Researcher at the Center for Applied Photonics (CAP) at INESC TEC and her current research interests are optical fiber sensors for medical applications.

Interest
Topics
Details

Details

  • Name

    Susana Novais
  • Role

    Assistant Researcher
  • Since

    01st April 2019
  • Nationality

    Portugal
  • Centre

    Applied Photonics
  • Contacts

    +351220402301
    susana.novais@inesctec.pt
003
Publications

2024

Linear Fiber Laser Configurations for Optical Concentration Sensing in Liquid Solutions

Authors
Soares, L; Perez-Herrera, RA; Novais, S; Ferreira, A; Silva, S; Frazao, O;

Publication
PHOTONICS

Abstract
In this study, different configurations based on linear fiber lasers were proposed and experimentally demonstrated to measure the concentration of liquid solutions. Samples of paracetamol liquid solutions with different concentrations, in the range from 52.61 to 201.33 g/kg, were used as a case-study. The optical gain was provided by a commercial bidirectional Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) and the linear cavity was obtained using two commercial Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs). The main difference of each configuration was the coupling ratio of the optical coupler used to extract the system signal. The sensing head corresponded to a Single-Mode Fiber (SMF) tip that worked as an intensity sensor. The results reveal that, despite the optical coupler used (50:50, 60:40, 70:30 or 80:20), all the configurations reached the laser condition, however, the concentration sensing was only possible using a laser drive current near to the threshold value. The configurations using a 70:30 and an 80:20 optical coupler allowed paracetamol concentration measurements with a higher sensitivity of (-3.00 +/- 0.24) pW/(g/kg) to be performed. In terms of resolution, the highest value obtained was 1.75 g/kg, when it was extracted at 20% of the output power to the linear cavity fiber laser configuration.

2024

Enhanced Sensitivity in Optical Sensors through Self-Image Theory and Graphene Oxide Coating

Authors
Cunha, C; Monteiro, C; Vaz, A; Silva, S; Frazao, O; Novais, S;

Publication
SENSORS

Abstract
This paper presents an approach to enhancing sensitivity in optical sensors by integrating self-image theory and graphene oxide coating. The sensor is specifically engineered to quantitatively assess glucose concentrations in aqueous solutions that simulate the spectrum of glucose levels typically encountered in human saliva. Prior to sensor fabrication, the theoretical self-image points were rigorously validated using Multiphysics COMSOL 6.0 software. Subsequently, the sensor was fabricated to a length corresponding to the second self-image point (29.12 mm) and coated with an 80 mu m/mL graphene oxide film using the Layer-by-Layer technique. The sensor characterization in refractive index demonstrated a wavelength sensitivity of 200 +/- 6 nm/RIU. Comparative evaluations of uncoated and graphene oxide-coated sensors applied to measure glucose in solutions ranging from 25 to 200 mg/dL showed an eightfold sensitivity improvement with one bilayer of Polyethyleneimine/graphene. The final graphene oxide-based sensor exhibited a sensitivity of 10.403 +/- 0.004 pm/(mg/dL) and demonstrated stability with a low standard deviation of 0.46 pm/min and a maximum theoretical resolution of 1.90 mg/dL.

2024

Coreless Silica Fiber Sensor based on Self-Image Theory and coated with Graphene Oxide

Authors
Cunha, C; Monteiro, C; Vaz, A; Silva, S; Frazao, O; Novais, S;

Publication
OPTICAL SENSING AND DETECTION VIII

Abstract
This work provides a method that combines graphene oxide coating and self-image theory to improve the sensitivity of optical sensors. The sensor is designed specifically to measure the amount of glucose present quantitatively in aqueous solutions that replicate the range of glucose concentrations found in human saliva. COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0 was used to simulate the self-imaging phenomenon using a coreless silica fiber (CSF). For high-quality self-imaging, the second and fourth self-imaging points are usually preferred because of their higher coupling efficiency, which increases the sensor sensitivity. However, managing the fourth self-image is more difficult because it calls for a longer CSF length. As a result, the first and second self-image points were the focus of the simulation in this work. After the simulation, using the Layerby-Layer method, the sensor was constructed to a length that matched the second self-image point (29.12 mm) and coated with an 80 mu m/mL graphene oxide layer. When comparing uncoated and graphene oxide-covered sensors to measure glucose in liquids ranging from 25 to 200 mg/dL, one bilayer of polyethyleneimine/graphene demonstrated an eight-fold improvement in sensitivity. The final sensor, built on graphene oxide, showed stability with a low standard deviation of 0.6 pm/min. It also showed sensitivity at 10.403 +/- 0.004 pm/(mg/dL) with a limit of detection of 9.15 mg/dL.

2024

Glucose concentration detection using a low-cost Raman Spectroscopy Kit

Authors
Cunha, C; Silva, S; Frazão, O; Novais, S;

Publication
EPJ Web of Conferences

Abstract
Raman technology offers a cutting-edge approach to measuring glucose solutions, providing precise and non-invasive analysis. By probing the vibrational energy levels of molecular bonds, Raman technology generates a unique spectral fingerprint that allows for the accurate determination of glucose concentrations. This study proposes the use of Raman spectroscopy to identify different glucose concentrations through the detection of Raman fingerprints. As expected, higher concentrations of glucose in the solution conducted to higher peak bands, indicating more glucose molecules interacting with light and consequently increasing the magnitude of inelastic scattering. This non-destructive approach preserves sample integrity and facilitates rapid analysis, making it suitable for various applications in biomedical research, pharmaceutical development, and food science.

2024

Low Coherence Interferometry Measurement: An Algorithm for fast processing with low noise and phase linearisation

Authors
Robalinho, P; Rodrigues, A; Novais, S; Ribeiro, ABL; Silva, S; Frazão, O;

Publication
EPJ Web of Conferences

Abstract
This work proposes a signal processing algorithm to analyse the optical signal from a Low Coherence Interferometric (LCI) system. The system uses a Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometer to interrogate a Fabry-Perot cavity, working as an optical sensor. This algorithm is based on the correlation and convolution operations, which allows the signal to be reconstructed based on itself, as well as, on the linearization of the signal phase, allowing the non-linearities of the actuator incorporated on the MZ interferometer to be compensated. The results show a noise reduction of 30 dB in the signal acquired. As a result, a reduction of 8.2 dB in the uncertainty of the measurement of the physical measurand is achieved. It is also demonstrated that the phase linearization made it possible to obtain a coefficient of determination (namely, R-squared) higher than 0.999.

Supervised
thesis

2023

Study and Development of Optical Fibre Sensors for Refractometric Measurements

Author
Cristina Cunha

Institution
INESCTEC