Photonic molecules for improving the optical response of macroporous silicon photonic crystals for gas sensing purposes

In this paper, we report the benefits of working with photonic molecules in macroporous silicon photonic crystals. In particular, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate that the optical properties of a resonant peak produced by a single photonic atom of 2.6 µm wide can be sequentially improved if a second and a third cavity of the same length are introduced in the structure. As a consequence of that, the base of the peak is reduced from 500 nm to 100 nm, while its amplitude remains constant, increasing its Q-factor from its initial value of 25 up to 175. In addition, the bandgap is enlarged almost twice and the noise within it is mostly eliminated. In this study we also provide a way of reducing the amplitude of one or two peaks, depending whether we are in the two- or three-cavity case, by modifying the length of the involved photonic molecules so that the remainder can be used to measure gas by spectroscopic methods.Postprint (published version

Study of resonant modes in a 700 nm pitch macroporous silicon photonic crystal

In this study the modes produced by a defect inserted in a macroporous silicon (MP) photonic crystal (PC) have been studied theoretical and experimentally. In particular, the transmitted and reflected spectra have been analyzed for variations in the defect’s length and width. The performed simulations show that the resonant frequency is more easily adjusted for the fabricated samples by length tuning rather than width. The optimum resonance peak results when centered in the PC bandgap. The changes in the defect geometry result in small variations of the optical response of the PC. The resonance frequency is most sensitive to length variations, while the mode linewidth shows greater change with the defect width variation. Several MPS photonic crystals were fabricated by the electrochemical etching (EE) process with optical response in the range of 5.8 µm to 6.5 µm. Results of the characterization are in good agreement with simulations. Further samples were fabricated consisting of ordered modulated pores with a pitch of 700 nm. This allowed to reduce the vertical periodicity and therefore to have the optical response in the range of 4.4 µm to 4.8 µm. To our knowledge, modes working in this range of wavelengths have not been previously reported in 3-d MPS structures. Experimental results match with simulations, showing a linear relationship between the defect’s length and working frequency inside the bandgap. We demonstrate the possibility of tailoring the resonance peak in both ranges of wavelengths, where the principal absorption lines of different gases in the mid infrared are placed. This makes these structures very promising for their application to compact gas sensors.Postprint (author's final draft

Transmission and thermal emission in the NO2 and CO absorption lines using macroporous silicon photonic crystals with 700 Nm pitch

Postprint (author's final draft

Macroporous silicon filters, a versatile platform for NDIR spectroscopic gas sensing in the MIR

© The Author(s) 2019. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative CommonsAttribution 4.0 License (CC BY,http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse of the work in anymedium, provided the original work is properly cited.This paper describes the spectroscopic detection of gases using macroporous silicon photonic crystals as narrow filters. The study begins by demonstrating the feasibility of photoelectrochemical etching to fabricate narrow filters along the mid infrared band. Next, we focus on the filter centered on the carbon dioxide fingerprint. The filter response is described for three different cell lengths and concentrations below 1%. Results show a concordance with the reformulated Beer-Lambert law. This can be used to predict the response of the filter for longer path lengths and higher concentrations, showing broad working ranges and compact sizes for CO2. In addition, optical robustness to external variations and long-term stability are also reported. Results are extrapolated to other macroporous silicon filters centered on the absorption spectra of N2O, OCS, NO2 and SO2. Finally, high sensitivity and selectivity is demonstrated by comparing them with some commercial filters.Postprint (published version

Impact of the absorption in transmittance and reflectance on macroporous silicon photonic crystals

The characteristics of reflection and transmission peaks in the spectra of photonic crystals have been studied theoretically and the results compared to measurements performed in fabricated samples. The aim of this work is to investigate the relation between material losses and the effective Q factors that can be obtained in photonic crystals made with it. Photonic crystals have been designed with defects of periodicity to introduce states in the band gap that give place to reflectance and transmittance peaks at adjustable specific wavelengths. The fabricated structures are described together with their reflection and transmission spectra. The influence of losses in the material in these spectra is evaluated.Postprint (published version

Empirical demonstration of CO2 detection using macroporous silicon photonic crystals as selective thermal emitters

This study describes the detection of CO2 using macroporous silicon photonic crystals as thermal emitters. It demonstrates that the reduction of structural nonhomogeneities leads to an improvement of the photonic crystals’ emission. Narrow emission bands (¿~120) located within the R-branch of carbon dioxide were achieved. Measurements were made using a deuterated triglycine sulfate photodetector and the photonic crystals, heated to 400°C, as selective emitters. A gas cell with a CO2 concentration between 0 ppm and 10,000 ppm was installed in the center. Results show high sensibility and selectivity that could be used in current nondispersive infrared devices for improving their features. These results open the door to narrowband emission in the mid-infrared for spectroscopic gas detection.Postprint (author's final draft

Effects of mesh size and effort changes on the ibero-atlantic hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) fishery (Div. VIIIc (W) + IXa)

This paper concerns Hake fishery from the North of Galicia (Spain) to the South of Portugal. It represents one more attempt in obtaining more informations about the exploitation state of hake stock in this area. The aim of this study is to assess the immediate and long-term effects in this fishery with different fishing strategies. The models used were the following: a) increases in mesh-size: - Gulland (1961), Jones (1974), Ricker (1975), Cadima (1976,1978). b) increases in mesh-size and changes in fishing effort: - Jones (1974) and Ricker (1975). To apply such methods we used the data concerning the mean catches (from 1974 to 1977) belonging to the Galician and Portuguese fleets.Ce travail concerne la pêcherie du merlu de la côte nord de la Galice (Espagne), jusq'au sud du Portugal. Il répresente un essai en plus pour améliorer notre connaissance sur l'état d'exploitation du stock du merlu dans cette même region. Le but de cet étude c'est l'évaluation des effects immédiats et a long terme sur la pêcherie selon des stratégies de peche différentes. Les modeles appliqués ont été les suivants: a) pour les accroissements des maillages: Gulland (1961), Jones (1974), Ricker (1975), Cadima (1976,1978). b) pour les variations de l'effort et augmentations des mail lages: Jones (1974) et Ricker (1975). Pour l'application des méthodes mentionnées, nous avons utilisé les données rélatives a la moyenne des captures réalisées par les flotilles espagnole (Galicienne) et portugaise, pendant la période 1974-77

Bandgap widening in macroporous silicon photonic crystals by multiperiodic structures

Large bandgaps with low transmission in 3D macroporous silicon photonic crystals have been proved as an interesting technology for the development of optical filters and spectroscopic MIR gas sensors. The aim of this study is the investigation of different bandgap widening methods based on multiperiodic structures for 3D macroporous silicon photonic crystals. To do so, chirped modulations and structures with different periodicity groups have been modelled and theoretically analysed by means of 3D FDTD simulations. They have revealed that by using different decreasing periodicity groups, bandgaps with null transmission and widths as high as 1800 nm, 4 times the original single periodicity photonic crystal bandgap, can be obtained. Furthermore, it has been shown that a resonant cavity with a 20% transmission can be placed in a 1 µm wide bandgap. The results open a way to use this type of structures not only for gas sensing but also for other purposes such as wide stop-band filters, selective filters or broadband mirrors.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Changes in Protein, Nonnutritional Factors, and Antioxidant Capacity during Germination of L. campestris

The changes in SDS-PAGE proteins patterns, oligosaccharides and phenolic compounds of L. campestris seeds, were evaluated during nine germination days. SDS-PAGE pattern showed 12 bands in the original protein seeds, while in the samples after 1–9 germination days, the proteins located in the range of 28–49 and 49–80 kDa indicated an important reduction, and there was an increase in bands about 27 kDa. On the other hand, oligosaccharides showed more than 50% of decrease in its total concentration after 4 germination days; nevertheless after the fifth day, the oligosaccharides concentration increases and rises more than 30% of the original concentration. Phenolic compounds increased their concentration since the first germination day reaching until 450% more than the original seed level. The obtained results are related with liberation or increase of phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties, allowing us to suggest that the germination would be used to produce legume foods for human consumption with better nutraceutical properties

A resource-based modelling framework to assess habitat suitability for Steppe birds in semiarid Mediterranean agricultural systems

European agriculture is undergoing widespread changes that are likely to have profound impacts on farmland biodiversity. The development of tools that allow an assessment of the potential biodiversity effects of different land-use alternatives before changes occur is fundamental to guiding management decisions. In this study, we develop a resource-based model framework to estimate habitat suitability for target species, according to simple information on species’ key resource requirements (diet, foraging habitat and nesting site), and examine whether it can be used to link land-use and local species’ distribution. We take as a study case four steppe bird species in a lowland area of the north-eastern Iberian Peninsula. We also compare the performance of our resource-based approach to that obtained through habitat-based models relating species’ occurrence and land-cover variables. Further, we use our resource-based approach to predict the effects that change in farming systems can have on farmland bird habitat suitability and compare these predictions with those obtained using the habitat-based models. Habitat suitability estimates generated by our resource-based models performed similarly (and better for one study species) than habitat based-models when predicting current species distribution. Moderate prediction success was achieved for three out of four species considered by resource-based models and for two of four by habitat-based models. Although, there is potential for improving the performance of resource-based models, they provide a structure for using available knowledge of the functional links between agricultural practices, provision of key resources and the response of organisms to predict potential effects of changing land-uses in a variety of context or the impacts of changes such as altered management practices that are not easily incorporated into habitat-based models