Fabien Sorin
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
Title: Hybrid multi-material optical fibers
Biography
Biography: Fabien Sorin
Abstract
The recent development of thermally drawn fibers that combine prescribed structures of materials with different optical and optoelectronic properties has enabled a novel path towards large area and flexible photonic systems. Complex optoelectronic functionalities can be achieved by combining all of the required materials into a macroscopic preform and using the thermal drawing process to stretch this preform into very long, thin and flexible functional fiber devices. Micro- and nano-structured devices with widely different optical and electronical properties, in prescribed position and with intimate interfaces, have been demonstrated with this approach. These include sub-hundred nanometers electrically connected semiconducting thinfilms that can act as light, heat, or chemical sensors, field effect structures, piezoelectric micro-domains and even extremely long nanowires and complex nano-spheres. In that regard, the thermal drawing technique represents a unique ability to tailor materials, structures and properties spanning the nanometer to kilometer length scales, making these fibers compelling candidates for applications such as remote and distributed sensing, large-area optical-detection arrays, energy harvesting and storage, innovative health care solutions, and functional fabrics. In this talk, we will present the materials and fabrication approach, and discuss various opportunities and fiber structure examples that has been achieved. We will also highlight some directions that the field may take in terms of new materials, structures and functionalities.