Fabrication of microstructured polymer optical fiber preform

SPIE

Silver nanocrystals modified microstructured polymer optical fibres for chemical and optical sensing

In-fibre chemical and optical sensors based on silver nanocrystals modified microstructured polymer optical fibres (MPOFs) were demonstrated. The silver nanocrystals modified MPOFs were formed by direct chemical reduction of silver ammonia complex ions on the templates of array holes in the microstructure polymer optical fibres. The nanotube-like and nanoisland-like Ag-modified MPOFs could be obtained by adjusting the conditions of Ag-formation in the air holes of MPOFs. SEM images showed that the higher concentration of the reaction solution (silver ammonia 0.5 mol/L, glucose 0.25 mol/L), gave rise to a tubular silver layer in MPOF, while the lower concentration (silver ammonia 0.1 M, glucose 0.05 M) produced an island-like Ag nanocrystal modified MPOF. The tubular Ag-MPOF composite fibre was conductive and could be directly used as array electrodes in electrochemical analyses. It displayed high electrochemical activity on sensing nitrate or nitrite ions. The enhanced fluorescence of dye molecules was observed when the island-like Ag-modified MPOF was inserted into a fluorescent dye solution. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fluorescence pH probe based on microstructured polymer optical fiber

A kind of optical pH sensor was demonstrated that is based on a pH-sensitive fluorescence dye-doped (eosin) cellulose acetate (CA) thin-film modified microstructured polymer optical fiber (MPOF). It was obtained by directly inhaling an eosin-CA-acetic acid mixed solution into array holes in a MPOF and then removing the solvent (acetic acid). The sensing film showed different fluorescence intensities to different pH solutions in a pH range of 2.5-4.5. Furthermore, the pH response range could be tailored through doping a surfactant, hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), in the sensing film. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.

Casting preforms for microstructured polymer optical fibre fabrication

A monolithic structured polymer preform was formed by in-situ chemical polymerization of high-purity MMA monomer in a home-made mould. The conditions for fabrication of the preforms were optimized and the preform was drawn to microstructured polymer optical fibre. The optical properties of the resultant elliptical-core fibre were measured. This technique provides advantages over alternative preform fabrication methods such as drilling and capillary stacking, which are less suitable for mass production. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.

Liquid-filled microstructured polymer fibers as monolithic liquid-core array fibers

Liquid-filled microstructured polymer optical fibers (MPOFs) as monolithic liquid-core array fiber are proposed and prepared by injecting high-refractive-index liquid into the holes array of the MPOFs. One example for potential applications is demonstrated as a new kind of coherent imaging fiber. It provides great potential for applications in chemical sensing, biosensors, and endoscopy, particularly in bifunctional detection. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America

Ultrahigh-resolution fiber-optic image guides derived from microstructured polymer optical fiber preforms

Ultrahigh-resolution fiber-optic image guides-fused image fiber, faceplate, and taper-were fabricated by using microstructured polymer optical fiber (MPOF) preforms composed of two polymers: polymethylmethacrylate and polystyrene. The pixel diameter in the resultant MPOF-based image guides was as small as 3 mu m. The imaging capabilities of these types of fiber-optic elements were demonstrated. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America