The objective of this study is to demonstrate the successful functionalization of the surface of a chalcogenide infrared waveguide with the ultimate goal of developing an infrared micro-sensor device. First, a polyisobutylene coating was selected by testing its physico-chemical compatibility with a Ge-Sb-Se selenide surface. To simulate the chalcogenide platform infrared sensor, the detection of benzene, toluene, and ortho-, meta- and para-xylenes was efficaciously performed using a polyisobutylene layer spin-coated on 1 and 2.5 µm co-sputtered selenide films of Ge28Sb12Se60 composition deposited on a zinc selenide prism used for attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. The thickness of the polymer coating was optimized by attenuated total reflection spectroscopy to achieve the highest possible attenuation of water absorption while maintaining the diffusion rate of the pollutant through the polymer film compatible with the targeted in situ analysis. Then, natural water, i.e., groundwater, wastewater, and seawater, was sampled for detection measurement by means of attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. This study is a valuable contribution concerning the functionalization by a hydrophobic polymer compatible with a chalcogenide optical sensor designed to operate in the mid-infrared spectral range to detect in situ organic molecules in natural water.

BRGM Direction Eau Environnement et Ecotechnologies Unité Bio Géochimie Environnementale et Qualité de l'Eau 45060 Orléans France

Department of Graphic Arts and Photophysics Faculty of Chemical Technology University of Pardubice Studentska 573 53210 Pardubice Czech Republic

FOTON UMR CNRS 6082 ENSSAT BP80518 22305 Lannion France

IFREMER Centre Bretagne Laboratoire Détection Capteurs et Mesures CS10070 29280 Plouzané France

Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes UMR CNRS 6226 Equipe Verres et Céramiques Université de Rennes 1 35042 Rennes France

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