Scientists have produced a first for communications by 3D printing silica glass micro-optics on the tips of optic fibers. This technique could make smaller sensors and imaging systems, enhanced connectivity, and faster internet possible. The manufacturing of chemicals and pharmaceuticals may also benefit from the study of printing techniques. This approach solves long-standing issues with silica glass optical fiber tip structure, frequently calling for high-temperature treatments that jeopardize the integrity of temperature-sensitive fiber coatings.
High temperatures are used to force carbon out of a base material that doesn’t contain any carbon to create a transparent glass structure. According to the lead author, Lee-Lun Lai, the team printed a silica glass sensor that, after several tests, proved to be more robust than a typical plastic-based sensor. The measurement of organic solvent concentration, which is difficult for polymer-based sensors because of its corrosive nature, was made possible by integrating a glass refractive index sensor onto the fiber tip.
Looking to the future, the researchers have demonstrated a method for printing nano gratings, ultra-small patterns etched into nanoscale surfaces. This breakthrough could be the key to precisely altering light, a capability that could find applications in quantum communication. Moreover, the direct 3D printing of arbitrary glass structures on fiber tips could pave the way for fiber-integrated quantum emitters, MEMS accelerometers, and microfluidic devices, opening up a world of possibilities in the field of photonics.
Related Content: UV-Emitting Glass: A Promising Solution To Biofouling