Polymer Optical Fiber Preform Research Articles

Visible Light Driven Photocatalytic Reactor Based on Micro-structured Polymer Optical Fiber Preform

A novel visible light driven photocatalytic reactor with 547 pieces of Ag/AgBr-film-modified capillaries is reported and it is derived from a microstructured polymer optical fiber (MPOF) preform. The MPOF preform not only plays the role of a light-transmitting media, but it is also a Ag/AgBr supporting and waste-water pipe to supply the photocatalytic degradation of dyes solute. The photocatalytic reactor has such a large surface area for Ag/AgBr loading, which is a visible light driven photocatalyst that photodegradation efficiency is enhanced.

A photocatalytic reactor derived from microstructured polymer optical fiber preform

This paper reports a novel photocatalytic reactor having 547 pieces of TiO2 nanocrystal-film-modified capillaries, which is derived from a microstructured polymer optical fiber (MPOF) preform. The photocatalytic active TiO2 nanocrystal film is obtained by microwave processing of the TiO2 gel films in the MPOF preform. The MPOF preform not only plays a role as a light-transmitting media, also a TiO2 supporting and waste-water pipe to supply for photocatalytic degradation of toxic organic solute. The photocatalytic reactor has so large surface area for TiO2 loading that photodegradation efficiency is enhanced. As far as we know, the photocatalytic reactor based on the super-multi channels capillary waveguide arrays has not been reported before.

TiO2 modified 547 holes microstructured polymer optical fiber preform and basic application on photocatalytic

In this paper, we report on a novel photocatalytic reactor having 547 pieces of TiO2-nanofilm-modified capillaries, which is derived from a microstructured polymer optical fiber(MPOF) preform. TiO2-film-modified MPOF preform is obtained by directly inhaling P25-doped TiO2 sol into array holes of MPOF and forming TiO2 film on their side walls. The MPOF perform acts as not only a light-transmitting media(rolling-up thin film waveguide, collecting and transmitting light into the TiO2thin film), but also a TiO2supporting and waste-water pipe to supply for photocatalytic degradation of toxic organic solute. Methylene blue(MB) is chosen as a model contaminant in water. The effects of loading quantity of TiO2, pH of MB and initial concentration of MB on photocatalytic degradation are investigated. The photocatalytic reactor has so large surface area for TiO2 loading that photodegradation efficiency is enhanced. As far as we know, the photocatalytic reactor with functions of collecting and transmitting light, conveying matter and loading catalyst has not been reported before.

Carbon dioxide gas sensor derived from a 547-hole microstructured polymer optical fiber preform

In this Letter, we report a carbon dioxide gas sensor having 547 pieces of thin-film modified capillaries, which are derived from a microstructured polymer optical fiber preform. Compared with the conventional absorption-based sensor, the monolithic polymer capillary waveguide arrays have better sensitivity, because the huge sensing surfaces, composed of 547 pieces of dye-indicator-doped porous ethyl cellulose layers, interact directly with the gas molecules. As far as we know, a gas sensor based on multichannel capillary waveguide arrays has not been reported before.

Determination of the refractive index profile of polymer optical fiber preform by the transverse ray tracing method

In graded-index polymer optical fiber (GI-POF), the refractive index profile is an important parameter in defining its bandwidth. However, direct determination of the refractive index profile of GI-POF is difficult due to its extreme thinness. In this study, the refractive index distribution of the GI-POF is indirectly determined by measuring the refractive index distribution of the GI-POF perform by applying the transverse ray tracing method to a simplified measurement system that we developed. In this system, a parallel tabular ray is irradiated transversely to a GI-POF preform. The transverse ray from the preform is then projected on a screen, and its digital image is processed to calculate the refractive index distribution. The calculation is based on a transverse ray simulation, a computer program that we developed in which the refractive index distribution of the preform is determined by comparing the displacement of the transverse ray projected on the screen with the actual measurement. The accuracy of this new measurement method is validated by comparing the refractive index distribution of a GI-POF preform with the refractive index distribution measured by the conventional method using an interferometer. We find that the refractive index distribution measured by this novel method agrees well with that measured by the conventional method.

Birefringence relaxation in photosensitive polymer optical fiber preform

The birefringence relaxation of photosensitive polymer optical fiber preform with low azo concentration is analyzed. Instead of bi-exponential function, tri-exponential one is introduced to describe the relaxation process. Three types of relaxation are given considering the movements of chromophores, side chains, and main chains. The conserved birefringence, which depends on the orientation of main chains, is also studied through comparison of three kinds of materials with different interaction between side chain and main chain.

Fabrication of a graded‐index polymer optical fiber preform without cavity via the automatic refilling process

AbstractWhen two monomers with different densities and refractive indices are polymerized under a centrifugal force field, a cavity is generated in the rotational axis as a result of inherent volume shrinkage. Accordingly, an additional monomer‐refilling process is necessary to compensate for the undesirable cavity. In this study, we modified the stepwise refilling process to an automatic process and have successfully fabricated a graded‐index polymer optical fiber preform without a cavity. The process could also reduce the processing time and enhance the transmission speed of a polymer optical fiber compared with the stepwise process. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006

Preparation of Graded-Index Polymer Optical Fiber Preform

Preparation of Graded-Index Polymer Optical Fiber Preform

Fabrication of a graded-index polymer optical fiber preform by using a centrifugal force

We have investigated a fabricating method for a graded index polymer optical fiber preform using a centrifugal force. When two monomers with different densities and refractive indices are polymerized under a centrifugal force, a concentration gradient is generated due to their density difference. Therefore, a graded refractive index can be obtained according to the concentration gradient. When a monomer is polymerized under a centrifugal force, a preform with a hollow is obtained because of volume shrinkage. To compensate for this practically, additional monomer should be filled into the hollow. Monomer should be fed to obtain a continuous gradient of refractive index at the interface before the first polymerized product is perfectly glassified. Two different types of feeding additional monomer were experimented with: monomer-monomer pair (case I) and monomer-polymer pair (case II). The graded index profile with a proper δn (about 0.01) was successfully obtained in either case.

Fabrication of a graded-index polymer optical fiber preform without a cavity by inclusion of an additional monomer under a centrifugal force field.

When two or more monomers with different densities and refractive indices are polymerized under a centrifugal force field, a radially varying refractive index is generated owing to the difference in density of the monomers. After the polymerization is completed, a cavity is generated about the rotational axis as a result of inherent volume shrinkage during bulk radical polymerization. Therefore it is necessary to feed an additional monomer into the cavity to compensate for the undesirable volume shrinkage. We have successfully fabricated a preform with graded indices for polymer optical fiber without a cavity by adding another monomer during rotation of the reactor. One can control the overall refractive-index profile by changing the rotation speed. Furthermore, the refractive-index profile can be predicted as a function of rotating speed by use of a simple mathematical model.