Fabrication and characterization of liquid-core hydrogel optical fiber

Abstract

This article introduces a new type of liquid-core hydrogel optical fiber preparation method, the structure of the liquid core hydrogel optical fiber is composed of an ultra-high refractive index liquid core, a high refractive index inner cladding and a low refractive index outer cladding. Since the refractive index of the liquid core is greater than the refractive index of the cladding, light can be propagated in the liquid-core by the principle of total reflection. The light energy of the liquid-core hydrogel optical fiber is mainly distributed in the liquid-core region. Compared with the solid core and hollow core hydrogel optical fiber prepared from the same material, the hydrogel optical fiber has a lower optical loss rate. Compared with traditional quartz optical fiber, the optical fiber has simple preparation method, low manufacturing cost, and good material flexibility. Due to the high biocompatibility of the hydrogel material, the optical fiber can be applied to optical sensing in a wider range of fields; In addition, the hydrogel material has good flexibility and expandability, can be compatible with the existing optical fiber system, and has good application prospects in the fields of biochemical detection, light transmission in vivo, and so on.