Design of corrosion sensors by using 1D quaternary photonic crystal with defect layer

For the first time, corrosion sensors are designed by using 1D Quaternary photonic crystals (QPCs). These quaternary PCs have 6 periods of four material layers followed by a defect layer (of air) then again 6 periods of same four material layers combination. These 1D quaternary PC-based corrosion sensors are highly sensitive. The corrosion sensitive output spectra transmission peak shifts of first and second 1D QPCs containing defect layers are 11 and 10 nm, respectively, over the displacement range of 0.1-0.4 mu m. These quaternary PC-based corrosion sensors can be used to detect corrosion in reinforced concrete structures for monitoring civil engineering structures.