Optically formed carbon nanotube sphere.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offer vast possibilities for future ultra-fast photonic devices. One of the biggest challenges to realize the devices is handling of carbon nanotubes. To achieve efficient handling, we have proposed and demonstrated the optical deposition of CNTs onto optical fiber ends. We found that a sphere-shaped super-structure made of carbon nanotubes can be fabricated by changing the light intensity. Chemical functionalization was not necessary in contrast to the conventional techniques of fabricating super-structures. We demonstrated physical manipulation of the sphere, and realized a passively mode-locked fiber laser employing the sphere.
Kashiwagi
Ken
K
Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 1-3-7 Hongo Bunkyoku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan. kasiwagi@sagnac.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Yamashita
Shinji
S
Set
Sze Yun
SY