Microstructured optical fibers as high-pressure microfluidic reactors.
Deposition of semiconductors and metals from chemical precursors onto planar substrates is a well-developed science and technology for microelectronics. Optical fibers are an established platform for both communications technology and fundamental research in photonics. Here, we describe a hybrid technology that integrates key aspects of both engineering disciplines, demonstrating the fabrication of tubes, solid nanowires, coaxial heterojunctions, and longitudinally patterned structures composed of metals, single-crystal semiconductors, and polycrystalline elemental or compound semiconductors within microstructured silica optical fibers. Because the optical fibers are constructed and the functional materials are chemically deposited in distinct and independent steps, the full design flexibilities of both platforms can now be exploited simultaneously for fiber-integrated optoelectronic materials and devices.
Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK. pjas@orc.soton.ac.uk
Pier J A
PJ
Sazio
Adrian
A
Amezcua-Correa
Chris E
CE
Finlayson
John R
JR
Hayes
Thomas J
TJ
Scheidemantel
Neil F
NF
Baril
Bryan R
BR
Jackson
Dong-Jin
DJ
Won
Feng
F
Zhang
Elena R
ER
Margine
Venkatraman
V
Gopalan
Vincent H
VH
Crespi
John V
JV
Badding