Abstract: A composite comprises a polymer matrix and a luminophore dispersed therein. The composite is useful as a sensing film that is used as an optical sensor for oxygen measurement comprising the composite sensing film; a source of photons for photo-exciting the luminophores and a waveguide, transparent in the frequency range of the excitation photons, for guiding the excitation photons from the source to the composite sensing film; a detector for measuring properties of photons emitted from the luminophores. A system including a computer may be useful for coordinating the activities of the sensor.

Abstract: A composite comprises a polymer matrix and a luminophore dispersed therein. The composite is useful as a sensing film that is used as an optical sensor for oxygen measurement comprising the composite sensing film; a source of photons for photo-exciting the luminophores and a waveguide, transparent in the frequency range of the excitation photons, for guiding the excitation photons from the source to the composite sensing film; a detector for measuring properties of photons emitted from the luminophores. A system including a computer may be useful for coordinating the activities of the sensor.

Abstract: A light modifying ceramic composition comprises an oxygen permeable sol-gel matrix and a lumophore held on the matrix. In particular, the lumophore of the invention is a hexanuclear molybdenum/tungsten core having 12 anionic ligands and two ligands that are uncharged. Uncharged ligands include organic nitriles, organic phosphines, and organic arsines. In one embodiment, the ceramic composition containing the lumophore and the sol-gel matrix is applied to the end of an optical fiber to provide a remote oxygen sensor. The sensors are useful for in situ biological monitoring of oxygen either in vivo or in vitro, and in time dependent control of combustion processes such as an automobile or power plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor for measuring the instantaneous rate of mass flow and the cumulative mass flow in steady or unsteady flows of single-phase liquids or gases in a duct. By measuring the shear stress or the streamwise pressure gradient at the duct wall, and relating it to mass flow through solutions to the Navier Stokes equations of fluid mechanics, information on mass flow through the entire duct cross sectional area is deduced.