Optical and Quantum Electronics - CALL FOR PAPERS: Optical Materials and Sensors for Environmental Monitoring

Optical materials play an essential role in environmental monitoring because of their ability to detect, quantify, and differentiate various substances, phenomena, or conditions in the environment. These materials can be utilized in sensors, detectors, and various other monitoring systems to keep tabs on changes in the environment. Optical sensors can detect minute concentrations of pollutants, changes in environmental conditions, and provide real-time data for analysis. Fluorescent dyes are used in sensors to detect specific ions, pH, or other chemical substances. Their fluorescence intensity or wavelength changes upon interaction with specific analytes. Polymer films can change their optical properties in the presence of specific gases or chemicals, making them useful for environmental sensing. Photonic crystals structures result in unique optical properties, which can change in the presence of specific analytes. Waveguides that can guide light and are sensitive to changes in their surroundings. Waveguides can be used to detect environmental parameters by measuring changes in light propagation. Nanomaterials like gold nanoparticles, quantum dots, and other nanostructures have unique optical properties that can be harnessed for sensing applications.

Fiber optic sensors are widely used for environmental monitoring because they are immune to electromagnetic interference, can be deployed in harsh conditions, and are suitable for remote sensing. They can be used to detect temperature, pressure, strain, pH, and various chemical compounds. Photonic crystal sensors can detect changes in the refractive index which allows them to sense the presence of specific chemicals or gases. Optical absorption Materials that change their optical properties based on the absorption of specific chemicals or gases can be utilized as sensors. For instance, certain dyes can change color when exposed to specific pollutants. Fluorescent probes emit light when excited by a specific wavelength. The emitted light's intensity or wavelength can be altered based on the environmental conditions or the presence of specific compounds, making them useful for environmental monitoring. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors can detect minute changes in refractive index on their surface. This allows for the detection of small amounts of chemicals or biological molecules. They are often used in water quality monitoring. Waveguide-based sensors can be used to detect changes in light propagation due to the adsorption of molecules or changes in refractive index. Liquid crystal sensors can change in the presence of specific analytes, leading to a detectable change in optical properties.

Environmental monitoring involves the detection of a broad range of substances and conditions, from gases in the atmosphere to contaminants in water. Given the variety of challenges faced in environmental monitoring. The selection of the appropriate optical material or sensor system largely depends on the specific environmental monitoring challenge. Whether monitoring air quality, water contamination, or other environmental concerns, optical methods offer a range of solutions that can be tailored to specific needs. Potential topics included, but not limited

• Optical materials in optical sensor for harsh environment applications
• Photoluminescence in carbon nano dots in optical sensing for bio imaging applications
• Optical material and optical fiber sensing for marine environment and marine structural health monitoring
• Polymer quantum materials and carbon dots in optical sensor for environmental pollution control  Photonic materials in low-cost semiconductor sensor for methane measurement and environmental applications
• Optical quantum dots in fluorescent film and optical sensor for ion detection of water
• Optical sensors for oil and gas measurement and leakage applications  Photonic materials in nanowires photocatalytic degradation for energy and environmental applications
• Photonic micro structured materials in optical fiber gas sensor for chemical sensing and potential environmental applications

Important Dates:

Open Submission: 18 October 2024
Submission Deadline: 25 August, 2024

Guest Editors:

Prof. Dr. Beer Pal Singh (Lead Guest Editor)
Chaudhary Charan Singh University, India
Email: drbeerpal@ieee.org (this opens in a new tab)

Dr. Tan Yen Nee
Newcastle University, UK
Email: yennee.tan@ncl.ac.uk (this opens in a new tab)

Dr. Timur Atabaev
Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan
Email: timur.atabaev@nu.edu.kz (this opens in a new tab)

Dr. Michał Mazur
Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland
Email: michal.mazur@pwr.edu.pl (this opens in a new tab) 

Submission Information:

The submitted article must be original, unpublished and not currently reviewed by other journals. Authors must mention in their cover letter for each Special Issue manuscript that the particular manuscript is for the theme and name of Guest Editors of Special Issue consideration so that the Guest Editors can be notified separately. 

Please visit https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11082/3 (this opens in a new tab), when submitting your paper and, in the Detail tab in the Collections dropdown list, choose "Optical Materials and Sensors for Environmental Monitoring"

Published articles will be found here (this opens in a new tab).