Abstract: An infrared (IR) sensor and a method of detecting molecular species in a liquid. In one embodiment, the IR sensor includes: (1) an IR light source configured to emit IR light, (2) a sensing element configured to receive the IR light, the IR light generating an evanescent field about the sensing element as the IR light propagates therethrough, molecules in a subject liquid interacting with the evanescent field and affecting a characteristic of the IR light and (3) an IR light detector configured to receive the IR light from the sensing element and detect the characteristic.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) sensor and a method of detecting molecular species in a liquid. In one embodiment, the IR sensor includes: (1) an IR light source configured to emit IR light, (2) a sensing element configured to receive the IR light, the IR light generating an evanescent field about the sensing element as the IR light propagates therethrough, molecules in a subject liquid interacting with the evanescent field and affecting a characteristic of the IR light and (3) an IR light detector configured to receive the IR light from the sensing element and detect the characteristic.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) sensor and a method of detecting molecular species in a liquid. In one embodiment, the method comprises i) generating IR light from an IR light source; ii) receiving in an optical fiber the IR light from the IR light source, wherein a selective ion-exchange (IX) medium is associated with the optical fiber and the IR light generates an evanescent field about the optical fiber as the IR light propagates therethrough, the selective IX medium configured to transport an ion species in a subject liquid about the optical fiber; and iii) receiving in an IR light detector the IR light from the optical fiber, wherein the ion species affects the evanescent field and thereby a characteristic of the IR light.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) sensor and a method of detecting molecular species in a liquid. In one embodiment, the IR sensor includes: (1) an IR light source configured to emit IR light, (2) a sensing element configured to receive the IR light, the IR light generating an evanescent field about the sensing element as the IR light propagates therethrough, molecules in a subject liquid interacting with the evanescent field and affecting a characteristic of the IR light and (3) an IR light detector configured to receive the IR light from the sensing element and detect the characteristic.