On June 10, 2026, M.Sc. Eng. Patryk Radek delivered a lecture entitled “PVDF-Coated Fiber Optic Interferometric Sensor for PFAS Detection in Water”. The presentation befell in room 431 on the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology.
During the scientific seminar, the idea and preliminary analysis outcomes of a PVDF-coated fiber optic interferometric sensor designed for the detection of PFAS compounds in water have been offered. The lecture started with an introduction to the problem of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a bunch of persistent organofluorine compounds generally known as “forever chemicals”. Their excessive chemical stability, potential to build up within the surroundings, and potential risk to aquatic ecosystems and human well being have been highlighted.
It was emphasised that present reference strategies, equivalent to LC–MS/MS, present extremely correct evaluation however are costly, time-consuming, and require specialised laboratory services. Therefore, they don’t seem to be appropriate for steady in situ monitoring.
The predominant matter of the seminar was the construction of a fiber optic Fabry–Pérot interferometer, by which a skinny PVDF layer deposited on the tip of a single-mode optical fiber acts as a receptor layer. The interplay between PFAS molecules and this layer adjustments its optical properties, leading to a shift of the spectral most recorded within the wavelength vary of roughly 1500–1600 nm.
The presentation additionally coated the preparation of the PVDF coating utilizing the dip-coating technique, microscopic observations of the layer, SEM and AFM characterization, and the measurement setup used throughout the experiments. The obtained outcomes demonstrated that the sensor responds to each pure water and PFOS options at very low concentrations, whereas the noticed shifts of λmax point out the interplay of the analyte with the PVDF layer.
These research represent a promising start line for the event of a compact optical sensor for PFAS monitoring in water. Further analysis will give attention to enhancing the sensor’s selectivity, sensitivity, and long-term stability, in addition to figuring out its restrict of detection.