Organic–inorganic atomically precise nanoclusters provide indispensable building blocks for establishing structure–property links in hybrid condensed matter. However, robust glasses of ligand-protected nanocluster solids have yet to be demonstrated. Herein, we show [Cu₄I₄(PR₃)₄] cubane nanoclusters coordinated by phosphine ligands (PR₃) form robust melt-quenched glasses in air with reversible crystal–liquid–glass transitions. Protective phosphine ligands critically influence the glass formation mechanism, modulating the glasses’ physical properties. A hybrid glass utilizing ethyldiphenylphosphine-based nanoclusters, [Cu₄I₄(PPh₂Et)₄], exhibits superb optical properties, including >90% transmission in both visible and near-infrared wavelengths, negligible self-absorption, near-unity quantum yield, and high light yield. Experimental and theoretical analyses demonstrate the structural integrity of the [Cu₄I₄(PPh₂Et)₄] nanocluster, i.e., iodine-bridged tetranuclear cubane, has been fully preserved in the glass state. The strong internanocluster CH−π interactions found in the [Cu₄I₄(PPh₂Et)₄] glass and subsequently reduced structural vibration account for its enhanced luminescence properties. Moreover, this highly transparent glass enables performant X-ray imaging and low-loss waveguiding in fibers drawn above the glass transition. The discovery of “nanocluster glass” opens avenues for unraveling glass formation mechanisms and designing novel luminescent glasses of well-defined building blocks for advanced photonics.

Nanowires are arguably the most studied nanomaterial model to make functional devices and arrays. Although there is remarkable maturity in the chemical synthesis of complex nanowire structures, their integration and interfacing to macro systems with high yields and repeatability still require elaborate aligning, positioning and interfacing and post-synthesis techniques. Top-down fabrication methods for nanowire production, such as lithography and electrospinning, have not enjoyed comparable growth. Here we report a new thermal size-reduction process to produce well-ordered, globally oriented, indefinitely long nanowire and nanotube arrays with different materials. The new technique involves iterative co-drawing of hermetically sealed multimaterials in compatible polymer matrices similar to fibre drawing. Globally oriented, endlessly parallel, axially and radially uniform semiconducting and piezoelectric nanowire and nanotube arrays hundreds of metres long, with nanowire diameters less than 15 nm, are obtained. The resulting nanostructures are sealed inside a flexible substrate, facilitating the handling of and electrical contacting to the nanowires. Inexpensive, high-throughput, multimaterial nanowire arrays pave the way for applications including nanowire-based large-area flexible sensor platforms, phase-changememory, nanostructure-enhanced photovoltaics, semiconductor nanophotonics, dielectric metamaterials,linear and nonlinear photonics and nanowire-enabled high-performance composites.

We produced kilometer-long, endlessly parallel, spontaneously piezoelectric and thermally stable poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) micro- and nanoribbons using iterative size reduction technique based on thermal fiber drawing. Because of high stress and temperature used in thermal drawing process, we obtained spontaneously polar γ phase PVDF micro- and nanoribbons without electrical poling process. On the basis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, we observed that PVDF micro- and nanoribbons are thermally stable and conserve the polar γ phase even after being exposed to heat treatment above the melting point of PVDF. Phase transition mechanism is investigated and explained using ab initio calculations. We measured an average effective piezoelectric constant as −58.5 pm/V from a single PVDF nanoribbon using a piezo evaluation system along with an atomic force microscope. PVDF nanoribbons are promising structures for constructing devices such as highly efficient energy generators, large area pressure sensors, artificial muscle and skin, due to the unique geometry and extended lengths, high polar phase content, high thermal stability and high piezoelectric coefficient. We demonstrated two proof of principle devices for energy harvesting and sensing applications with a 60 V open circuit peak voltage and 10 μA peak short-circuit current output.

Integration of nanowires into functional devices with high yields and good reliability turned out to be a lot more challenging and proved to be a critical issue obstructing the wide application of nanowire-based devices and exploitation of their technical promises. Here we demonstrate a relatively easy macrofabrication of a nanowire-based imaging circuitry using a recently developed nanofabrication technique. Extremely long and polymer encapsulated semiconducting nanowire arrays, mass-produced using the iterative thermal drawing, facilitate the integration process; we manually aligned the fibers containing selenium nanowires over a lithographically defined circuitry. Controlled etching of the encapsulating polymer revealed a monolayer of nanowires aligned over an area of 1 cm² containing a 10 × 10 pixel array. Each light-sensitive pixel is formed by the contacting hundreds of parallel photoconductive nanowires between two electrodes. Using the pixel array, alphabetic characters were identified by the circuitry to demonstrate its imaging capacity. This new approach makes it possible to devise extremely large nanowire devices on planar, flexible, or curved substrates with diverse functionalities such as thermal sensors, phase change memory, and artificial skin.

A multilayered triboelectric nanogenerator (MULTENG) that can be actuated by acoustic waves, vibration of a moving car, and tapping motion is built using a 3D‐printing technique. The MULTENG can generate an open‐circuit voltage of up to 396 V and a short‐circuit current of up to 1.62 mA, and can power 38 LEDs. The layers of the triboelectric generator are made of polyetherimide nanopillars and chalcogenide core–shell nanofibers.

This article introduces surface textured polymer fibers as a new platform for the fabrication of affordable microfluidic devices. Fibers are produced tens of meters‐long at a time and comprise 20 continuous and ordered channels (equilateral triangle grooves with side lengths as small as 30 micrometers) on their surfaces. Extreme anisotropic spreading behavior due to capillary action along the grooves of fibers is observed after surface modification with polydopamine (PDA). These flexible fibers can be fixed on any surface—independent of its material and shape—to form three‐dimensional arrays, which spontaneously spread liquid on predefined paths without the need for external pumps or actuators. Surface textured fibers offer high‐throughput fabrication of complex open microfluidic channel geometries, which is challenging to achieve using current photolithography‐based techniques. Several microfluidic systems are designed and prepared on either planar or 3D surfaces to demonstrate outstanding capability of the fiber arrays in control of fluid flow in both vertical and lateral directions. Surface textured fibers are well suited to the fabrication of flexible, robust, lightweight, and affordable microfluidic devices, which expand the role of microfluidics in a scope of fields including drug discovery, medical diagnostics, and monitoring food and water quality.

This article introduces surface textured polymer fibers as a new platform for the fabrication of affordable microfluidic devices. Fibers are produced tens of meters‐long at a time and comprise 20 continuous and ordered channels (equilateral triangle grooves with side lengths as small as 30 micrometers) on their surfaces. Extreme anisotropic spreading behavior due to capillary action along the grooves of fibers is observed after surface modification with polydopamine (PDA). These flexible fibers can be fixed on any surface—independent of its material and shape—to form three‐dimensional arrays, which spontaneously spread liquid on predefined paths without the need for external pumps or actuators. Surface textured fibers offer high‐throughput fabrication of complex open microfluidic channel geometries, which is challenging to achieve using current photolithography‐based techniques. Several microfluidic systems are designed and prepared on either planar or 3D surfaces to demonstrate outstanding capability of the fiber arrays in control of fluid flow in both vertical and lateral directions. Surface textured fibers are well suited to the fabrication of flexible, robust, lightweight, and affordable microfluidic devices, which expand the role of microfluidics in a scope of fields including drug discovery, medical diagnostics, and monitoring food and water quality.

Dopamine is the principle biomarker for diseases such as schizophrenia, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s, and the need is urgent for rapid and sensitive detection methods for diagnosis and monitoring of such diseases. In this Article, we report a turn-on fluorescent method for rapid dopamine sensing which is based on monitoring the intrinsic fluorescence of in situ synthesized polydopamine nanoparticles. The assay uses only a common base and an acid, NaOH and HCl to initiate and stop the polymerization reaction, respectively, which makes the assay extremely simple and low cost. First, we studied the in situ optical properties of polydopamine nanoparticles, for the first time, which formed under different alkaline conditions in order to determine optimum experimental parameters. Then, under optimized conditions we demonstrated high sensitivity (40 nM) and excellent selectivity of the assay. With its good analytical figures of merit, the described method is very promising for detection of dopamine related diseases.

Machine olfaction research aspires to mimic the exquisite sense of smell in mammals, using arrays of cross‐responsive sensors backed with sophisticated pattern recognition algorithms for the differentiation of thousands of complex odors. on p. 1263, M. Bayindir and co‐workers report an infrared‐absorption‐based odor differentiation in hollow core, wavelength scalable, photonic bandgap fiber arrays. Surprisingly, the specific and cross‐responsive nature of the sensor data enable direct binary coding of smell sensations.

The combination of conductors, semiconductors and insulators with well-defined geometries and at prescribed length scales, while forming intimate interfaces, is essential in most functional electronic and optoelectronic devices. These are typically produced using a variety of elaborate wafer-based processes, which allow for small features, but are restricted to planar geometries and limited coverage area. In contrast, the technique of fibre drawing from a preformed reel or tube is simpler and yields extended lengths of highly uniform fibres with well-controlled geometries and good optical transport characteristics. So far, this technique has been restricted to particular materials and larger features. Here we report on the design, fabrication and characterization of fibres made of conducting, semiconducting and insulating materials in intimate contact and in a variety of geometries. We demonstrate that this approach can be used to construct a tunable fibre photodetector comprising an amorphous semiconductor core contacted by metallic microwires, and surrounded by a cylindrical-shell resonant optical cavity. Such a fibre is sensitive to illumination along its entire length (tens of meters), thus forming a photodetecting element of dimensionality one. We also construct a grid of such fibres that can identify the location of an illumination point. The advantage of this type of photodetector array is that it needs a number of elements of only order N, in contrast to the conventional order N² for detector arrays made of photodetecting elements of dimensionality zero.

We have experimentally observed the eigenmode splitting due to coupling of the evanescent defect modes in three-dimensional photonic crystals. The splitting was well explained with a theory based on the classical wave analog of the tight-binding (TB) formalism in solid state physics. The experimental results were used to extract the TB parameters. A new type of waveguiding in a photonic crystal was demonstrated experimentally. A complete transmission was achieved throughout the entire waveguiding band. We have also obtained the dispersion relation for the waveguiding band of the coupled periodic defects from the transmission-phase measurements and from the TB calculations.

The invention provides an optical fiber photodetector including a photoconductive element, such as a semiconducting element, having a fiber length. The semiconducting element is characterized as a non-composite material in at least one fiber direction. At least one pair of conducting electrodes is in contact with the semiconducting element along the fiber length, and an insulator is provided along the fiber length. An optical resonator can be disposed along the fiber length and along a path of illumination to the semiconducting element. The resonator is dimensioned to substantially reflect all illumination wavelengths except for a prescribed range of wavelengths transmitted to the semiconducting element. The fiber photodetector can be arranged in a photodetecting fiber grid, photodetecting fiber fabric, or other configuration for detecting incident illumination.

Developments in nanoscale fabrication and characterization techniques have led to fundamental changes in the scientific understanding of many fields, and novel nanostructures have been utilized to investigate the conceptual underpinnings behind a diverse array of natural phenomena. However, nanofabrication methods are frequently hindered by issues such as misalignment, small batch sizes, high production costs and constraints in material choice or nanostructure diversity, which decrease their potential utility and prevent their widespread application in nanoscale optics and photonics. In this work, a new top-down nanofabrication method is described, which is called Iterative Size Reduction (ISR), where step-by-step reduction is utilized to decrease structure dimensions from macro- to nanosizes and produce indefinitely long one-dimensional core-shell nanostructures with properties highly suitable for use in optical applications. Plateau-Rayleigh instabilities are then utilized to thermally degrade ISR-produced nanowire arrays into complex core-shell schemes, which are produced successively in a hitherto-undescribed transitory region between core-shell nanowires and core-shell nanospheres. A diverse array of optical phenomena have been observed on fabricated novel core-shell nano-platforms, which are utilized in the design of novel nanostructures for emerging photonics applications. Briefly, (a) the resonant Mie scattering behavior is characterized on glass-polymer nanostructures and these nanostructures are designed for large-area structural coloration, (b) a novel non-resonant Mie scattering regime responsible for the scattering characteristics exhibited by all-polymer core-shell nanowires is described, (c) a nanoscale analogue to the thin film interference phenomenon is demonstrated that occurs on the core-shell boundary of ISR-produced micro- and nanostructures, (d) an unusual photonic crystal structure observed in the neck feathers of mallard drakes is investigated and imitated, (e) a series of all-polymer core-shell nanowires to function as novel light-trapping platforms and sensors are engineered and (f) the generation of supercontinuum light in well-ordered arrays of As2Se3 nanowires is reported.

Microfluidics is the science of controlling low volumes of fluids in a microchannel. It is used in diverse area of applications such as chemical and biological analysis. Benefits of microfluidics are fast analysis, short reaction times, and portability of device. Current fabrication techniques of lab-on-a-chip microfluidic devices are soft lithography and micromachining. However, these methods suffer from design limitations such as flexibility of product, high cost, integration of external components, and biocompatibility. Surface textured polymer fibers are utilized as a novel platform for the fabrication of affordable microfluidic devices. Fibers are produced by thermal drawing technique tens of meters-long at a time and comprise twenty continuous and ordered V-grooves channels on their surfaces. Extreme anisotropic wetting behavior due to capillary action along the grooves of fibers is observed after surface modifications with polydopamine (PDA) coating and Ultraviolet/Ozone (UV/O) treatment. Three-dimensional arrays of flexible fibers spontaneously spread liquid on predefined paths without the need of external pumps or actuators. In addition, surface modification with organically modified silica nanoparticles was added on top of the V-grooves to enhance the hydrophobicity of the fiber surfaces. Surface textured fibers are well suited for the fabrication of flexible, robust, lightweight and affordable microfluidic devices which is believed to expand the role of microfluidics in a scope of fields including drug discovery, medical diagnostics and monitoring food and water quality.

Terbium-doped gadolinium oxysulfide (Gd₂O₂S:Tb³⁺), commonly referred to as Gadox, is a widely used scintillator material due to its exceptional X-ray attenuation efficiency and high light yield. However, Gadox-based scintillators suffer from low X-ray spatial resolution due to their large particle size, which causes significant light scattering. To address this limitation, we report the synthesis of terbium-doped colloidal Gadox nanoplatelets (NPLs) with near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and high radioluminescence light yield (LY). In particular, our investigation reveals a strong correlation between PLQY, LY, particle size, and Tb³⁺concentration. Our synthetic approach allows precise control over the lateral size and thickness of the Gadox NPLs, resulting in a LY of 50,000 photons/MeV. Flexible scintillating screens fabricated with the solution-processable Gadox NPLs exhibited a 20 lp/mm X-ray spatial resolution, surpassing commercial Gadox scintillators. These high-performance and flexible Gadox NPL-based scintillators enable enhanced X-ray imaging capabilities in medicine and security. Our work provides a framework for designing nanomaterial scintillators with superior spatial resolution and efficiency through precise control of dimensions and dopant concentration.

Organic–inorganic atomically precise nanoclusters provide indispensable building blocks for establishing structure–property links in hybrid condensed matter. However, robust glasses of ligand-protected nanocluster solids have yet to be demonstrated. Herein, we show [Cu₄I₄(PR₃)₄] cubane nanoclusters coordinated by phosphine ligands (PR₃) form robust melt-quenched glasses in air with reversible crystal–liquid–glass transitions. Protective phosphine ligands critically influence the glass formation mechanism, modulating the glasses’ physical properties. A hybrid glass utilizing ethyldiphenylphosphine-based nanoclusters, [Cu₄I₄(PPh₂Et)₄], exhibits superb optical properties, including >90% transmission in both visible and near-infrared wavelengths, negligible self-absorption, near-unity quantum yield, and high light yield. Experimental and theoretical analyses demonstrate the structural integrity of the [Cu₄I₄(PPh₂Et)₄] nanocluster, i.e., iodine-bridged tetranuclear cubane, has been fully preserved in the glass state. The strong internanocluster CH−π interactions found in the [Cu₄I₄(PPh₂Et)₄] glass and subsequently reduced structural vibration account for its enhanced luminescence properties. Moreover, this highly transparent glass enables performant X-ray imaging and low-loss waveguiding in fibers drawn above the glass transition. The discovery of “nanocluster glass” opens avenues for unraveling glass formation mechanisms and designing novel luminescent glasses of well-defined building blocks for advanced photonics.

Multimaterial luminescent fibers featuring integrated organic, inorganic, or hybrid nanoemitters are essential elements within a multitude of photonic systems. These systems encompass critical applications, such as single photon sources, high-energy radiation and particle sensors, and wireless optical communication networks. However, the integration of highly efficient luminescent nanomaterials into fibers with predefined geometries, materials, and functionalities remains challenging. This work reports on a process for fabricating indefinitely long multimaterial polymer fibers that can be doped with different organic–inorganic hybrid emitters, such as Cs₃Cu₂I₅ nanoparticles, Cu₂I₂ nanoclusters, and Mn-doped Cs₄CdBi₂Cl₁₂ phosphors. This versatility allows for the creation of fibers with tunable emission colors, which enable the realization of large-area, high-performance scintillation surfaces by additive manufacturing, weaving, or rolling. These conformal scintillator screens have been used to demonstrate X-ray imaging of nonplanar complex shapes without the image distortion and resolution degradation associated with rigid planar scintillator configurations. Additive manufacturing of sophisticated three-dimensional scintillators with nanoemitters offers opportunities for personalized medical imaging platforms, particularly for breast cancer screening, as well as applications in large-area high-energy radiation and particle detection.

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) X-ray scintillators have attracted increasing attention because of their theoretical ability to utilize 100% radiation-induced excitons. However, their scintillation performance is severely hampered by their typically low X-ray attenuation efficiencies or mechanochromic properties. Here, we demonstrate hybrid organic–inorganic TADF scintillators with remarkably high X-ray absorption cross sections based on non-mechanochromic Cu₂X₂ (X = Cl, Br, or I) nanoclusters. The Cu₂X₂ nanoclusters display radioluminescence light yields as high as 175 000 photons MeV^–1, attributable to their low self-absorption and spatially separated HOMO and LUMO orbitals. Furthermore, because of their non-mechanochromic properties, these nanoclusters can be formed into scintillating screens with excellent radiation and humidity stability via soft-pressing. The fabricated TADF scintillating screens display a high X-ray imaging efficiency, benefiting from their high light yields and high spatial resolutions (∼30 lp mm^–1). This work highlights the promise TADF Cu₂X₂ nanocluster-based scintillators have in meeting the demanding requirements of cutting-edge X-ray imaging.

Lead-free organic metal halide scintillators with low-dimensional electronic structures have demonstrated great potential in X-ray detection and imaging due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. Herein, the zero-dimensional organic copper halide (18-crown-6)₂Na₂(H₂O)₃Cu₄I₆ (CNCI) which exhibits negligible self-absorption and near-unity green-light emission was successfully deployed into X-ray imaging scintillators with outstanding X-ray sensitivity and imaging resolution. In particular, we fabricated a CNCI/polymer composite scintillator with an ultrahigh light yield of ∼109,000 photons/MeV, representing one of the highest values reported so far for scintillation materials. In addition, an ultralow detection limit of 59.4 nGy/s was achieved, which is approximately 92 times lower than the dosage for a standard medical examination. Moreover, the spatial imaging resolution of the CNCI scintillator was further improved by using a silicon template due to the wave-guiding of light through CNCI-filled pores. The pixelated CNCI-silicon array scintillation screen displays an impressive spatial resolution of 24.8 line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm) compared to the resolution of 16.3 lp/mm for CNCI-polymer film screens, representing the highest resolutions reported so far for organometallic-based X-ray imaging screens. This design represents a new approach to fabricating high-performance X-ray imaging scintillators based on organic metal halides for applications in medical radiography and security screening.

High-performance, large-area, flexible, and bio-compatible electroactive devices pave the way for the emergence of the pervasive flexible electronics as sensing, actuating, transducing, and energy harvesting platforms. Here we introduce a new organic superparaelectric-like relaxor system with an anomalously high negative electrostriction (Q₃₃=-180 m⁴/C²) by transforming a nonpolar P(VDF-TrFE) macroscopic slab into meters-long multilayered nanostructures. P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer in polyethersulfone nanotubes crystallizes from the molten state directly to the most polar all-trans conformation with 3/1 helical defects under stress and nanoscale confinement. The external electric field induces a disorder-order transition in intramolecular chains, which gives rise to extraordinarily high electromechanical strain (7%) even at low electric fields. We used our electrostrictive impact sensory modules without further electrical poling or thermal annealing in cardiac arterial pulse measurements, artificial hand, and electronic skin with single electrode configuration.

Early detection of pathogens or their virulence factors in complex media has a key role in early diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. Nanomolar and selective detection of Exotoxin A, which is a virulence factor secreted from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the sputum of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients, can pave the way for early diagnosis of P. aeruginosa infections. In this study, we conducted a preliminary study to demonstrate the feasibility of optical biodetection of P. aeruginosa Exotoxin A in a diluted artificial sputum mimicking the CF respiratory environment. Our surface engineering approach provides an effective biointerface enabling highly selective detection of the Exotoxin A molecules in the complex media using monoclonal anti-Exotoxin A functionalized microtoroids. The highly resilient microtoroid surface toward other constituents of the sputum provides Exotoxin A detection ability in the complex media by reproducible measurements. In this study, the limit-of-detection of Exotoxin A in the complex media is calculated as 2.45 nM.

We introduce a droplet-based biomolecular detection platform using robust, versatile, and low-cost superhydrophilic patterned superhydrophobic surfaces. Benefitting from confinement and evaporation-induced shrinkage of droplets on wetted patterns, we show enrichment-based biomolecular detection using very low sample volumes. First, we developed a glucose assay using fluorescent polydopamine (PDA) based on enhancement of PDA emission by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) produced in enzyme-mediated glucose oxidation reaction. Incubation in evaporating droplets resulted in brighter fluorescence compared to that in bulk solutions. Droplet assay was highly sensitive toward increasing glucose concentration while that in milliliter-volume solutions resulted in no fluorescence enhancement at similar time scales. This is due to droplet evaporation that increased the reaction rate by causing enrichment of PDA and glucose/glucose oxidase as well as increased concentration of H₂O₂ generated in shrinking droplet. Second, we chemically functionalized wetted patterns with single-stranded DNA and developed fluorescence-based DNA detection to demonstrate the adaptability of the patterned surfaces for a different class of assay. We achieved detection of glucose and DNA with concentration down to 130 μM and 200 fM, respectively. Patterned superhydrophobic surfaces with their simple production, sensitive response, and versatility present potential for bioanalysis from low sample volumes.

We report production of air-clad tapered chalcogenide fibers by directly drawing bulk glasses between cleaved tips of tapered silica fibers. Exploiting these tapered fibers with nanoscale waists as evanescent optical couplers, we demonstrate phase-matched coupling of light into on-chip whispering gallery mode chalcogenide microresonators with coupling efficiencies as high as 95%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first-time demonstration of critical coupling into high-index microresonators by using high-index tapered fibers. The tapered chalcogenide fibers can also be utilized as optical couplers for microresonators made of various high-index materials, as well as for nonlinear optical applications.

We demonstrate a rice leaf-like hierarchically textured polymer fiber array for anisotropic non-wetting surfaces. To provide superhydrophobicity in addition to the anisotropic behavior, fiber surfaces are spray coated with organically modified silica nanoparticles. The resulting micro/nano hierarchically structured fiber surfaces demonstrate anisotropic non-wetting properties. We designed various fiber architectures for droplet transportation, mixing, and guiding exploiting the scalability of the fiber texture during thermal drawing; optional nanoparticle surface modification; and inherent flexibility of the fibers.

A portable, low‐cost, flexible, sensitive and selective paper‐based sensor was proposed for nitroaromatic explosive detection in water samples. The sensor was designed to achieve π‐π stacking formation between emaraldine base polyaniline (PANI) and pyrene (Py) molecules. This π‐π stacking formation enables a sensitive turn‐off fluorescence quenching under the principle of photo‐induced electron transfer (PET) mechanism. PANI−Py absorbed paper strips were immersed into the aqueous mediums of analytes and the fluorescence quenching was observed under a simple UV lamp by naked‐eye. Paper strips exhibited∼ 96 % quenching efficiency and the limit of detection was calculated about 9.59 ng/ml. Self‐quenching efficiency test showed that the sensor can be used for several weeks under the adequate storing conditions. In addition, experimental findings revealed that the paper‐based PANI−Py strips work with high precision in real‐samples such as tap water with ∼85 % quenching efficiency. Moreover the reusability investigations showed that PANI−Py paper‐based sensor can be reused 5 times with 54% sensitivity.

Triboelectric power harvesting and biochemical sensing inside poly(vinylidene fluoride) hollow fibers. Fiber‐based microfluidic energy harvesting system, which is also utilized as self‐powered chemical and biosensor. In vitro device concept demonstrating that triboelectric effect can be used for cell detection.

An artificial nose system for the recognition and classification of gas-phase analytes and its application in identifying common industrial gases is reported. The sensing mechanism of the device comprises the measurement of infrared absorption of volatile analytes inside the hollow cores of optofluidic Bragg fibers. An array of six fibers is used, where each fiber targets a different region of the mid-infrared in the range of 2–14 μm with transmission bandwidths of about 1–3 μm. The quenching in the transmission of each fiber due to the presence of analyte molecules in the hollow core is measured separately and the cross response of the array allows the identification of virtually any volatile organic compound (VOC). The device was used for the identification of seven industrial VOC vapors with high selectivity using a standard blackbody source and an infrared detector. The array response is registered as a unique six digit binary code for each analyte by assigning a threshold value to the fiber transmissions. The developed prototype is a comprehensive and versatile artificial nose that is applicable to a wide range of analytes.

This review targets diversified oligonucleotide-based biodetection techniques, focusing on the use of microresonators of whispering gallery mode (WGM) type as optical biosensors mostly integrated with lab-on-a-chip systems. On-chip and microfluidics combined devices along with optical microresonators provide rapid, robust, reproducible and multiplexed biodetection abilities in considerably small volumes. We present a detailed overview of the studies conducted so far, including biodetection of various oligonucleotide biomarkers as well as deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs), ribonucleic acids (RNAs) and proteins. We particularly advert to chemical surface modifications for specific and selective biosensing.

This article describes a facile method for the preparation of two-dimensionally patterned superhydrophobic hybrid coatings with controlled wettability. Superhydrophobic coatings were deposited from nanostructured organically modified silica (ormosil) colloids that were synthesized via a simple sol–gel method. On the defined areas of the superhydrophobic ormosil coatings, stable wetted micropatterns were produced using Ultraviolet/Ozone (UV/O) treatment which modifies the surface chemistry from hydrophobic to hydrophilic without changing the surface morphology. The degree of wettability can be precisely controlled depending on the UV/O exposure duration; extremely wetted spots with water contact angle (WCA) of nearly 0° can be obtained. Furthermore, we demonstrated high-throughput biomolecular adsorption and mixing using the superhydrophilic patterns. The proposed superhydrophilic-patterned nanostructured ormosil surfaces with their simple preparation, robust and controlled wettability as well as adaptability on flexible substrates, hold great potential for biomedical and chemical on-chip analysis.

This paper reports the synthesis of silica capped surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide; CTAB) and dye (Rose Bengal; RB) containing mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). Capping the pores of the surfactant containing MSNs with a thin silica layer decreased the immediate surfactant originated cytotoxicity of these particles without affecting their long term (3 days) cytotoxicity. Also, the silica capping process almost completely prevented the hemolytic activity of the surfactant containing MSNs. In addition, improved uptake of silica capped MSNs compared to the uncapped particles by cancer cells was demonstrated. The delayed cytotoxicity, low hemolytic activity, and better cellular uptake of the silica capped MSNs make them promising for the development of safe (i.e. with fewer side effects) yet efficient theranostic agents. These nanocarriers may release the loaded cytotoxic molecules (CTAB) mostly after being accumulated in the tumor site and cause so minimal damage to the normal tissues and blood components. In addition, the nanoscale confinement of RB molecules inside the pores of MSNs makes the particles brightly fluorescent. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that due to the singlet oxygen generation capability of the RB dye the silica capped MSNs can be also used for photodynamic therapy of cancer.

A multilayered triboelectric nanogenerator (MULTENG) that can be actuated by acoustic waves, vibration of a moving car, and tapping motion is built using a 3D‐printing technique. The MULTENG can generate an open‐circuit voltage of up to 396 V and a short‐circuit current of up to 1.62 mA, and can power 38 LEDs. The layers of the triboelectric generator are made of polyetherimide nanopillars and chalcogenide core–shell nanofibers.

Although label-free biosensors comprised of optical microcavities inherently possess the capability of resolving molecular interactions at individual level, this extreme sensitivity restricts their convenience for large scale applications by inducing vulnerability towards non-specific interactions that readily occur within complex media. Therefore, the use of optical microresonators for biosensing is mostly limited within strictly defined laboratory conditions, instead of field applications as early detection of cancer markers in blood, or identification of contamination in food. Here, we propose a novel surface modification strategy suitable for but not limited to optical microresonator based biosensors, enabling highly selective biosensing with considerable sensitivity as well. Using a robust, silane-based surface coating which is simultaneously protein resistant and bioconjugable, we demonstrate that it becomes possible to perform biosensing within complex media, without compromising the sensitivity or reliability of the measurement. Functionalized microtoroids are successfully shown to resist nonspecific interactions, while simultaneously being used as sensitive biological sensors. This strategy could pave the way for important applications in terms of extending the use of state-of-the-art biosensors for solving problems similar to the aforementioned.

This article reports a general method to prepare hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles with tailored morphology. The method is based on selective dissolution of porous cores of solid silica shell/porous silica core nanoparticles under mild conditions without the need for corrosive or toxic etchants. First, core–shell nanospheres or nanorods are prepared in a one-pot reaction. Then, mesoporous cores of the nanoparticles are selectively dissolved by incubating them in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 65 °C for one day. Surprisingly, shells of the resulting hollow particles contain both small and large mesopores which makes the particles very suitable for adsorption and desorption of a wide range of molecules. In addition, we proposed a mechanism for selective dissolution of porous cores of the core–shell nanoparticles.

Nanotechnology presents versatile architectural designs for the purpose of utilization as a building block of 1D optoelectronic nanodevices because current nanowire-based schemes require more effective solutions for low absorption capacity of nanoscale volumes. We report on the potential of nanospring absorbers as an alternative light-harvesting platform with significant advantages over conventional nanowires. Absorption capacity of nanospring geometry is found to be superior to cylindrical nanowire shape. Unlike nanowires, they are able to trap a larger amount of light thanks to characteristic periodic behavior that boosts light collection for the points matched with Mie resonances. Moreover, nanospring shape supplies compactness to a resulting device with area preservation as high as twofold. By considering that a nanospring array with optimal periods yields higher absorption than individual arrangements and core-shell designs, which further promote light collection due to unique antireflection features of shell layer, these nanostructures will pave the way for the development of highly efficient self-powered nanosystems.

Mictoroids, as optical biosensors, can provide beneficial biosensing platforms to understand DNA alterations. These alterations could have significant clinical importance, such as the case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is a commonly found pathogen in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients—causing poor prognosis by undergoing mutations during disease steps, gaining virulence and drug resistance. To provide a preliminary diagnosis platform for early-stage bacterial mutations, biosensing with a selective microtoroid surface was suggested. For this purpose, microtoroids with high quality factors were fabricated. The microtoroid surfaces were coated with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES)/trimethylmethoxysilane (TMMS) mixed silane solution followed by EDC/NHS chemistry for covalent conjugation of DNA probes. Ethanolamine capping was applied to avoid unspecific interactions. The confocal studies confirmed homogeneous functionalization of the microtoroid surface. The DNA hybridization was demonstrated to be affected from the probe length. The optical biosensors showed a significant response (∼22 pm) to the complementary strand of the mutated type P. aeruginosa DNA, while showing substantially low and late response (∼5 pm) to the point mismatch strand. The limit of detection (LOD) for the complementary strand was calculated as 2.32 nM. No significant response was obtained for the noncomplementary strand. The results showed the microtoroids possessed selective surfaces in terms of distinguishing DNA alterations.

Organically modified silica (ORMOSIL)-coated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with improved energy conversion efficiency are demonstrated. ORMOSIL-coated DSSC surfaces exhibit omnidirectional low reflectivity over a broad range of wavelengths (400–800 nm). The short-circuit current density (J_SC) is enhanced up to 23% at normal incidence (θ=0  deg) as a result of ORMOSIL coating. In addition, J_SC enhancement is even higher at larger angles of incidence; 84% enhancement was observed at θ=30  deg. Moreover, ORMOSIL coating is superhydrophobic with a contact angle of 155 deg.

We produced kilometer-long, endlessly parallel, spontaneously piezoelectric and thermally stable poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) micro- and nanoribbons using iterative size reduction technique based on thermal fiber drawing. Because of high stress and temperature used in thermal drawing process, we obtained spontaneously polar γ phase PVDF micro- and nanoribbons without electrical poling process. On the basis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, we observed that PVDF micro- and nanoribbons are thermally stable and conserve the polar γ phase even after being exposed to heat treatment above the melting point of PVDF. Phase transition mechanism is investigated and explained using ab initio calculations. We measured an average effective piezoelectric constant as −58.5 pm/V from a single PVDF nanoribbon using a piezo evaluation system along with an atomic force microscope. PVDF nanoribbons are promising structures for constructing devices such as highly efficient energy generators, large area pressure sensors, artificial muscle and skin, due to the unique geometry and extended lengths, high polar phase content, high thermal stability and high piezoelectric coefficient. We demonstrated two proof of principle devices for energy harvesting and sensing applications with a 60 V open circuit peak voltage and 10 μA peak short-circuit current output.

Nanowires play a crucial role in the development of new generation optoelectronic devices ranging from photovoltaics to photodetectors, as these designs capitalize on the low material usage, utilize leaky-mode optical resonances and possess high conversion efficiencies associated with nanowire geometry. However, their current schemes lack sufficient absorption capacity demanded for their practical applicability and more efficient materials cannot find widespread usage in these designs due to their rarity and cost. Here we suggest a novel and versatile nanoconcentrator scheme utilizing unique optical features of non-resonant Mie (NRM) scattering regime associated with low-index structures. The scattering regime is highly compatible with resonant Mie absorption effect taking place in nanowire absorbers. This technique in its optimized forms can provide up to 1500% total absorption enhancement, 400-fold material save and is suitable for large-area applications with significant area preservation compared to thin-film of same materials. Proposed superenhancer concept with its exceptional features such as broadband absorption enhancement, polarization immunity and material-independent manner paves the way for development of efficient nanowire photosensors or solar thermophotovoltaic devices and presents novel design opportunities for self-powered nanosystems.

Nanowires are arguably the most studied nanomaterial model to make functional devices and arrays. Although there is remarkable maturity in the chemical synthesis of complex nanowire structures, their integration and interfacing to macro systems with high yields and repeatability still require elaborate aligning, positioning and interfacing and post-synthesis techniques. Top-down fabrication methods for nanowire production, such as lithography and electrospinning, have not enjoyed comparable growth. Here we report a new thermal size-reduction process to produce well-ordered, globally oriented, indefinitely long nanowire and nanotube arrays with different materials. The new technique involves iterative co-drawing of hermetically sealed multimaterials in compatible polymer matrices similar to fibre drawing. Globally oriented, endlessly parallel, axially and radially uniform semiconducting and piezoelectric nanowire and nanotube arrays hundreds of metres long, with nanowire diameters less than 15 nm, are obtained. The resulting nanostructures are sealed inside a flexible substrate, facilitating the handling of and electrical contacting to the nanowires. Inexpensive, high-throughput, multimaterial nanowire arrays pave the way for applications including nanowire-based large-area flexible sensor platforms, phase-changememory, nanostructure-enhanced photovoltaics, semiconductor nanophotonics, dielectric metamaterials,linear and nonlinear photonics and nanowire-enabled high-performance composites.

A digital photonic nose concept based on infrared absorption inside a hollow core infrared transmitting fiber array is presented. Wavelength‐scalable photonic band gap fibers filter specific energy photons from a blackbody source, where volatile compounds selectively absorb photons depending on their chemical absorption spectrum. The pattern resulting in the detector array is processed as a binary signature.

We demonstrated two complementary size-dependent structural coloring mechanisms, interference and scattering, in indefinitely long core–shell nanowire arrays. The unusual nanostructures are comprised of an amorphous semiconducting core and a polymer shell layer with disparate refractive indices but with similar thermomechanical properties. Core–shell nanowires are mass produced from a macroscopic semiconductor rod by using a new top-to-bottom fabrication approach based on thermal size reduction. Nanostructures with diameters from 30 to 200 nm result in coloration that spans the whole visible spectrum via resonant Mie scattering. Nanoshell coloration based on thin film interference is proposed as a structural coloration mechanism which becomes dominant for nanowires having 700–1200 nm diameter. Controlled color generation in any part of visible and infrared spectral regions can be achieved by the simple scaling down procedure. Spectral color generation in mass-produced uniform core–shell nanowire arrays paves the way for applications such as spectral authentication at nanoscale, light-scattering ingredients in paints and cosmetics, large-area devices, and infrared shielding.

We report the preparation and characterization of nanoporous organically modified silica (ormosil) thin films at room temperature and neutral pH conditions from homogeneous methyl silsesquioxane (MSQ) gels. Universally applicable and stable colloidal ormosil suspensions are prepared from the gels by sonication and coated to the substrates including glass, paper and plastics. The nanoporosity and thickness of the films can be tuned, which makes them suitable for certain applications including sensing, functional coatings, and low-dielectric materials. We demonstrate the antireflection property of the films on glass, cellulose acetate (CA) and polyetherimide (PEI) substrates. The films on CA and PEI retain their antireflection property after multiple bending cycles. Furthermore, films are intrinsically hydrophobic, over a wide pH range, with static contact angles up to 143° on paper and 123° on glass and CA. Producing nanoporous ormosil thin films on flexible substrates may expand their use in low cost electronic, optical devices and sensors, and lab-on-paper applications.

Fluorescent porous organic–inorganic thin films are of interest of explosive detection because of their vapor phase fluorescence quenching property. In this work, we synthesized fluorescent silica nanotubes using a biomineralization process through self-assembled peptidic nanostructures. We designed and synthesized an amyloid-like peptide self-assembling into nanofibers to be used as a template for silica nanotube formation. The amine groups on the peptide nanofibrous system were used for nucleation of silica nanostructures. Silica nanotubes were used to prepare highly porous surfaces, and they were doped with a fluorescent dye by physical adsorption for explosive sensing. These porous surfaces exhibited fast, sensitive, and highly selective fluorescence quenching against nitro-explosive vapors. The materials developed in this work have vast potential in sensing applications due to enhanced surface area.

Ordered arrays of subwavelength hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) nanorods on glass substrates are fabricated using room temperature nanoimprint lithography and anodized aluminum oxide membranes. Moth-eye type nanorod arrays exhibited superior omnidirectional antireflection characteristics in visible wavelengths. The ellipsometric measurements revealed that average specular reflection is remaining below 1% up to 55° incidence angles. Transmission measurements at normal incidence resulted in significant increase in transmitted light intensity with respect to plain glass. Simulations showed that up to 99% transmission could be obtained from double sided tapered HSQ nanorod arrays on HSQ thin film and glass substrates. Achieving large-area, broadband and omnidirectional antireflective surfaces on glass pave the way for applications including photovoltaics.

One-pot synthesis of fluorinated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (FMSNs) is reported. Uniform mesoporous nanoparticles are prepared by condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and fluoroalkyl containing organotriethoxy silane monomers, respectively. The method enables selective deposition of fluorine atoms on the surface of the particles. FMSNs are used to prepare stable liquid marbles with water. An organo-modified silica sol is used with FMSNs to prepare mechanically stable superhydrophobic surfaces (water contact angle of 161°). The mechanical stability of the surface is investigated with water dripping and adhesive tape tests. The prepared FMSNs are promising building blocks for robust, large-area, and multifunctional self-cleaning surfaces.

We report preparation of highly transparent, flexible, and thermally stable superhydrophobic organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) aerogel thin films from colloidal dispersions at ambient conditions. The prepared dispersions are suitable for large area processing with ease of coating and being directly applicable without requiring any pre- or post-treatment on a variety of surfaces including glass, wood, and plastics. ORMOSIL films exhibit and retain superhydrophobic behavior up to 500 °C and even on bent flexible substrates. The surface of the films can be converted from superhydrophobic (contact angle of 179.9°) to superhydrophilic (contact angle of <5°) by calcination at high temperatures. The wettability of the coatings can be changed by tuning the calcination temperature and duration. The prepared films also exhibit low refractive index and high porosity making them suitable as multifunctional coatings for many application fields including solar cells, flexible electronics, and lab on papers. [/av_toggle] [/av_toggle_container] [/av_cell_three_fourth][av_cell_one_fourth vertical_align='top' padding='30px' background='bg_color' background_color='' background_gradient_color1='' background_gradient_color2='' background_gradient_direction='vertical' src='' background_attachment='scroll' background_position='top left' background_repeat='no-repeat' link='' linktarget='' link_hover='' mobile_display='' custom_class='' av_uid='av-1ru8s'] [av_image src='' attachment='' attachment_size='' copyright='' caption='' styling='' align='center' font_size='' overlay_opacity='0.4' overlay_color='#000000' overlay_text_color='#ffffff' animation='no-animation' hover='av-hover-grow' appearance='' lazy_loading='disabled' link='' target='' title_attr='' alt_attr='' id='' custom_class='' av_element_hidden_in_editor='0' av_uid='av-kk75tzdy' admin_preview_bg=''][/av_image] [/av_cell_one_fourth] [/av_layout_row] [av_layout_row border='' min_height_percent='' min_height_pc='25' min_height='0' color='main_color' mobile='av-flex-cells' mobile_breaking='' id='' custom_class='' aria_label='' av_element_hidden_in_editor='0' av_uid='av-vo4uk'] [av_cell_three_fourth vertical_align='middle' padding='30px' padding_sync='true' background_color='' src='' attachment='' attachment_size='' background_attachment='scroll' background_position='top left' background_repeat='no-repeat' av_uid='av-vianw'] [av_one_full first min_height='' vertical_alignment='' space='' row_boxshadow='' row_boxshadow_color='' row_boxshadow_width='10' custom_margin='' margin='0px' mobile_breaking='' border='' border_color='' radius='0px' padding='0px' column_boxshadow='' column_boxshadow_color='' column_boxshadow_width='10' background='bg_color' background_color='' background_gradient_color1='' background_gradient_color2='' background_gradient_direction='vertical' src='' background_position='top left' background_repeat='no-repeat' highlight='' highlight_size='' animation='' link='' linktarget='' link_hover='' title_attr='' alt_attr='' mobile_display='' id='' custom_class='' aria_label='' av_uid='av-3y3dg'] [av_textblock size='' av-medium-font-size='' av-small-font-size='' av-mini-font-size='' font_color='' color='' id='' custom_class='' template_class='' av_uid='av-kk77y76q' sc_version='1.0' admin_preview_bg='']

Template free synthesis of organically modified silica mesoporous thin films for TNT sensing

A. Yildirim, H. Budunoglu, H. Deniz, M. O. Guler, and Mehmet Bayindir

ACS Applied Materials Interfaces, volume 2, page 2892 (2010)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]

Abstract

In this paper, we present a facile, template-free sol−gel method to produce fluorescent and highly mesoporous organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) thin films for vapor phase sensing of TNT. An alkyltrifunctional, methyltrimethoxysilane MTMS precursor was used to impart hydrophobic behavior to gel network in order to form the spring back effect. In this way, porous films (up to 74% porosity) are obtained at ambient conditions. Fluorescent molecules are physically encapsulated in the ORMOSIL network during gelation. Fluorescence of the films was found to be stable even after 3 months, proving the successful fixing of the dye into the ORMOSIL network. The functional ORMOSIL thin films exhibited high fluorescence quenching upon exposition to TNT and DNT vapor. Fluorescence quenching responses of the films are thickness-dependent and higher fluorescence quenching efficiency was observed for the thinnest film (8.6% in 10 s). The prepared mesoporous ORMOSIL thin films have great potential in new sensor and catalysis applications.

We propose and demonstrate an infrared (IR) absorption spectrometer, made with a spatially variable photonic bandgap (PBG) structure, a blackbody source, and a simple IR detector, to identify the IR molecular fingerprints of analyte molecules. The PBG-based structure consists of thermally evaporated, IR transparent, high-refractive-index chalcogenide quarter-wave stacks (QWS) with a cavity layer. Spatial variation of the very sharp transmission peak due to the QWS cavity mode allows the structure to be used as a variable IR filter. Our proposed IR-PBG spectrometer can be used for detection and identification of volatile organic compounds.

Te-enriched chalcogenide glass Ge₁₅As₂₅Se₁₅Te₄₅ (GAST) is synthesized, thermo-optically characterized and used to fabricate a one dimensional photonic crystal cavity mode that is dynamically and reversibly tuned by temperature modulation. The optical cavity mode is designed using GAST and As₂S₃ glasses after fully determining their temperature dependence of the complex refractive indices in the visible and near infrared spectrum using spectroscopic ellipsometry. By making use of the very large thermo-optic coefficient (dn/dT = 4 × 10^-4/°C) of GAST glass at 1.2 μm, the cavity mode of the multilayer was tuned reversibly more than 16 nm, which is, to the best of our knowledge, an order of magnitude larger for this kind of cavity modulation. Wide and dynamical spectral tuning of low bandgap chalcogenide glasses via temperature modulation can be utilized in photonic crystal based integrated optics, quantum dot resonance matching, solid state and gas laser components, and infrared photonic crystal fibers.

We propose microfluidics as a useful platform for reconfigurable electromagnetic metamaterials. Microfluidic split-ring resonators (MF-SRRs) are fabricated inside a flexible elastomeric material by employing rapid prototyping. The transmission measurements performed for mercury-injected MF-SRR exhibits sharp magnetic resonances at microwave wavelengths. We further calculate transmission properties of the MF-SRR array and the effect of electrical conductivity of the liquid inside the channel on the magnetic resonance. The measured results agree well with numerical calculations. Our proposal may open up directions toward switchable metamaterials and reconfigurable devices such as filters, switches, and resonators.

We present simple physical and chemical procedures that allow tuning and modification of the topography of gratings present in optical storage discs into geometries optimal for grating coupled plasmon resonance excitation. After proper metal coating, the tuned surfaces exhibit sharp plasmon resonances that can be excited at wavelengths ranging from 260 nm to over 2.7 μm with relatively high quality factors. As an immediate exemplary application, use of such optimized gratings in aqueous medium for refractive index measurement is demonstrated.

Plasmonics enables the realization of new optical components. Here, we report yet another plasmonic component based on a pair of surfaces displaying grating coupled plasmon enhanced transmission. We observe high quality factor transmission peaks as high as 100 through our plasmonic filter based on gratings obtained directly from optical storage disks. Wavelength and polarization dependent transmission is also demonstrated in the visible and infrared portions of the spectrum. The resonance wavelength of this filter can be tuned by simply changing the angle of incidence. Numerical calculations agree well with measurements. Our work can open up directions toward disposable optical components such as filters and polarizers.

We report laser action from a toroidal microcavity coated with π-conjugated polymer. An ultralow threshold value of ∼200 pJ/pulse is achieved by free space excitation in ambient conditions. This is the lowest threshold energy obtained in microtoroid lasers by free space excitation. The effective refractive index of the polymer, extracted from Fourier analysis of emission spectra, is 1.787, which is very close to measured value of 1.790 indicating that laser modes are located around the circumference of the cavity as whispering gallery resonances.

Bright fluorescence of the BODIPY dyes, just like most other fluorophores, is quenched in the solid state due to reabsorption and self-quenching. However, introduction of bulky tert-butyl substituents on the meso-phenyl groups result in more spaced packing in the solid state, resulting in highly luminescent powders and films.

We report on the design, fabrication, and characterization of spatially variable infrared photonic band gap filter that consists of thermally evaporated, high refractive index contrast, amorphous chalcogenide glass multilayers. Due to graded thickness structure, the filter exhibits a position dependent stop band and a cavity mode ranging from 1.8 to 3.4 μm wavelengths. Reflection measurements on the variable filter agree well with theoretical calculations. These results pave the way to low-loss infrared mirrors, filters, spectral imaging, and miniaturized spectrometers at infrared region.

Virtually all electronic and optoelectronic devices necessitate a challenging assembly of conducting, semiconducting and insulating materials into specific geometries with low-scattering interfaces and microscopic feature dimensions. A variety of wafer-based processing approaches have been developed to address these requirements, which although successful are at the same time inherently restricted by the wafer size, its planar geometry and the complexity associated with sequential high-precision processing steps. In contrast, optical-fibre drawing from a macroscopic preformed rod is simpler and yields extended lengths of uniform fibres. Recently, a new family of fibres composed of conductors, semiconductors and insulators has emerged. These fibres share the basic device attributes of their traditional electronic and optoelectronic counterparts, yet are fabricated using conventional preform-based fibre-processing methods, yielding kilometres of functional fibre devices. Two complementary approaches towards realizing sophisticated functions are explored: on the single-fibre level, the integration of a multiplicity of functional components into one fibre, and on the multiple-fibre level, the assembly of large-scale two- and three-dimensional geometric constructs made of many fibres. When applied together these two approaches pave the way to multifunctional fabric systems.

A preform-to-fiber approach to the fabrication of functional fiber-based devices by thermal drawing in the viscous state is presented. A macroscopic preform rod containing metallic, semiconducting, and insulating constituents in a variety of geometries and close contact produces kilometer-long novel nanostructured fibers and fiber devices. We first review the material selection criteria and then describe metal-semiconductor-metal photosensitive and thermally sensitive fibers. These flexible, lightweight, and low-cost functional fibers may pave the way for new types of fiber sensors, such as thermal sensing fabrics, artificial skin, and large-area optoelectronic screens. Next, the preform-to-fiber approach is used to fabricate spectrally tunable photodetectors that integrate a photosensitive core and a nanostructured photonic crystal structure containing a resonant cavity. An integrated, self-monitoring optical-transmission waveguide is then described that incorporates optical transport and thermal monitoring. This fiber allows one to predict power-transmission failure, which is of paramount importance if high-power optical transmission lines are to be operated safely and reliably in medical, industrial and defense applications. A hybrid electron-photon fiber consisting of a hollow core (for optical transport by means of a photonic bandgap) and metallic wires (for electron transport) is described that may be used for transporting atoms and molecules by radiation pressure. Finally, a solid microstructured fiber fabricated with a highly nonlinear chalcogenide glass enables the generation of supercontinuum light at near-infrared wavelengths.

Optical fields are measured using sequential arrangements of optical components such as lenses, filters, and beam splitters in conjunction with planar arrays of point detectors placed on a common axis. All such systems are constrained in terms of size, weight, durability and field of view. Here a new, geometric approach to optical-field measurements is presented that lifts some of the aforementioned limitations and, moreover, enables access to optical information on unprecedented length and volume scales. Tough polymeric photodetecting fibres drawn from a preform are woven into light-weight, low-optical-density, two- and three-dimensional constructs that measure the amplitude and phase of an electromagnetic field on very large areas. First, a three-dimensional spherical construct is used to measure the direction of illumination over 4π steradians. Second, an intensity distribution is measured by a planar array using a tomographic algorithm. Finally, both the amplitude and phase of an optical wave front are acquired with a dual-plane construct. Hence, the problem of optical-field measurement is transformed from one involving the choice and placement of lenses and detector arrays to that of designing geometrical constructions of polymeric, light-sensitive fibres.

Thermal sensing provides important information on the state of many physiological, chemical, and physical systems. However, the problem of continuously monitoring and detecting a thermal excitation over very large areas (100 m²) with high resolution (1 cm²) still remains. A solution to this problem is presented here in which a fiber (see figure) senses heat along its entire length and generates an electrical signal.

The ability to integrate distinct functional elements into a single device structure enables the realization of systems with higher-level functionality. Here we report on the design and fabrication of a fibre device structure that contains integrated optical, electrical and thermal elements for self-monitored optical transport. The fibre transmission element uses a hollow-core multilayer cylindrical photonic bandgap structure designed to guide high-power radiation at 10.6 μm along the fibre axis. Multiple thermal-detection elements are placed in the vicinity of the hollow core for the purpose of temperature monitoring along the entire fibre length. Metal wires bridged by a semiconductor layer extend along the length of the fibre and deliver an electrical response to the fibre ends on change in the fibre temperature. The multimaterial fibre is drawn at high speeds from a single preform to produce extended lengths of optically and thermally functional fibres. The exponential dependence on temperature of the electrical conductivity of the semiconducting material allows for the discrimination, in real time, between normal transmission conditions and those that are indicative of localized defect formation, thus enabling a self-monitoring high-power optical transmission line for failure prediction and prevention.

The combination of conductors, semiconductors and insulators with well-defined geometries and at prescribed length scales, while forming intimate interfaces, is essential in most functional electronic and optoelectronic devices. These are typically produced using a variety of elaborate wafer-based processes, which allow for small features, but are restricted to planar geometries and limited coverage area. In contrast, the technique of fibre drawing from a preformed reel or tube is simpler and yields extended lengths of highly uniform fibres with well-controlled geometries and good optical transport characteristics. So far, this technique has been restricted to particular materials and larger features. Here we report on the design, fabrication and characterization of fibres made of conducting, semiconducting and insulating materials in intimate contact and in a variety of geometries. We demonstrate that this approach can be used to construct a tunable fibre photodetector comprising an amorphous semiconductor core contacted by metallic microwires, and surrounded by a cylindrical-shell resonant optical cavity. Such a fibre is sensitive to illumination along its entire length (tens of meters), thus forming a photodetecting element of dimensionality one. We also construct a grid of such fibres that can identify the location of an illumination point. The advantage of this type of photodetector array is that it needs a number of elements of only order N, in contrast to the conventional order N² for detector arrays made of photodetecting elements of dimensionality zero.

Here we report the fabrication of hollow-core cylindrical photonic bandgap fibers with fundamental photonic bandgaps at near-infrared wavelengths, from 0.85 to 2.28 µm. In these fibers the photonic bandgaps are created by an all-solid multilayer composite meso-structure having a photonic crystal lattice period as small as 260 nm, individual layers below 75 nm and as many as 35 periods. These represent, to the best of our knowledge, the smallest period lengths and highest period counts reported to date for hollow PBG fibers. The fibers are drawn from a multilayer preform into extended lengths of fiber. Light is guided in the fibers through a large hollow core that is lined with an interior omnidirectional dielectric mirror. We extend the range of materials that can be used in these fibers to include poly(ether imide) (PEI) in addition to the arsenic triselenide (As₂Se₃) glass and poly(ether sulfone) (PES) that have been used previously. Further, we characterize the refractive indices of these materials over a broad wavelength range (0.25–15 µm) and incorporated the measured optical properties into calculations of the fiber photonic band structure and a preliminary loss analysis.

Photonic nanocrystals are periodic dielectric or metallic structures having photonic bands in analogy to electronic bands of semiconductors. The presence of photonic band-gaps, where the propagation of photons of certain frequencies is prohibited, and the variety of photon dispersions give rise to novel and unusual optical phenomena. Consequently, photonic crystals are now envisaged as an essential building block of future photonic devices. This paper aims to provide a review of contemporary developments on the physics and applications of photonic crystals with an emphasis on optical properties of coupled microcavity waveguides and on the negative refraction phenomenon. The enhancement of spontaneous emission in a silicon nitride photonic nanocrystal is investigated in detail. Both the negative refraction of a Gaussian beam and the focusing of a microwave point source through a photonic crystal slab with subwavelength resolution are studied experimentally.

We report free space transmission and the first reflection measurements of a composite double negative (DNG) metamaterial, also known as a left-handed material (LHM). The metamaterial composes of the split-ring-resonators and discontinuous thin wires. Very high transmission values of the metamaterial are observed within a frequency range for which both effective permeability and permittivity are expected to be negative.

We experimentally demonstrate trapping and dropping of photons through localized cavity modes in three-dimensional layer-by-layer photonic crystal structures. By creating acceptor- and donor-like cavities which are coupled to a highly confined waveguide (HCW), we drop selected frequencies from the waveguide mode. Tunability of the demultiplexing structures can be achieved by changing the properties of cavities and the coupling between the cavity and the HCW.

We observe the dropping of electromagnetic waves having a specific frequency or a certain frequency band in two-dimensional dielectric photonic crystals. The single frequency is dropped via cavity-waveguide coupling. Tunability of the demultiplexing mode can be achieved by modifying the cavity properties. The band-dropping phenomenon is achieved by introducing interaction between an input planar, or coupled-cavity, waveguide and the output coupled-cavity waveguides (CCWs). The dropping band can be tuned by changing the coupling strength between the localized cavity modes of the output CCWs. We also calculate the transmission spectra and the field patterns by using the finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) method. Calculated results agree well with the microwave measurements.

We present a detailed study of the localized coupled-cavity modes in 2-D dielectric photonic crystals. The transmission, phase, and delay time characteristics of the various coupled-cavity structures are measured and calculated. We observed the eigenmode splitting, waveguiding through the coupled cavities, splitting of electromagnetic waves in waveguide ports, and switching effect in such structures. The corresponding field patterns and the transmission spectra are obtained from the finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) simulations. We also develop a theory based on the classical wave analog of the tight-binding (TB) approximation in solid state physics. Experimental results are in good agreement with the FDTD simulations and predictions of the TB approximation.

We propose and demonstrate a type of composite metamaterial which is constructed by combining thin copper wires and split ring resonators (SRRs) on the same board. The transmission measurements performed in free space exhibit a passband within the stop bands of SRRs and thin wire structures. The experimental results are in good agreement with the predictions of the transfer matrix method simulations.

We present a detailed theoretical and experimental study of the evanescent coupled optical microcavity modes in one-dimensional photonic bandgap structures. The coupled-cavity samples are fabricated by depositing alternating hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride and silicon oxide layers. Splitting of the eigenmodes and formation of a defect band due to interaction between the neighbouring localized cavity modes are experimentally observed. Corresponding field patterns and the transmission spectra are obtained by using transfer matrix method (TMM) simulations. A theoretical model based on the classical wave analogue of the tight-binding (TB) picture is developed and applied to these structures. Experimental results are in good agreement with the predictions of the TB approximation and the TMM simulations.

We experimentally investigated the influence of positional disorder on the photonic band gap, defect characteristics, and waveguiding in two-dimensional dielectric and metallic photonic crystals. Transmission measurements performed on the dielectric photonic crystals have shown a stop band even if a large amount of disorder was introduced to these structures. On the other hand, the photonic band gap of the metallic crystals was found to be very sensitive to disorder, while the metallicity gap was not affected significantly. We addressed how the transmission characteristics of a cavity were affected in the presence of weak disorder. Since the translational symmetry was broken by disorders, we measured different cavity frequencies when we generated defects at various locations. We also demonstrated the propagation of photons by hopping through coupled-cavity structures in both dielectric and metallic two-dimensional photonic crystals. Effects of weak disorder on guiding and bending of electromagnetic waves through the coupled-cavity waveguides were also investigated.

Three-dimensional photonic-bandgap crystals are used to design and fabricate uniquely directional sources and receivers. By utilizing the resonances of a Fabry–Perot cavity formed with photonic-bandgap crystals, we were able to create exceptionally directional sources by placing the sources within such a cavity. Very good agreement between finite-difference time-domain calculations and the experiment is obtained. Radiation patterns with half-power beam widths of less than 12 degrees were obtained.

We report on experimental observation of photonic stop bands in two-dimensional metallic Penrose lattice. We investigated the defect characteristics, and observed strongly localized cavity modes below the plasma frequency. The absence of the translational symmetry allowed to change the defect frequencies and localization properties of the defect modes. Propagation of photons along highly localized coupled-cavity modes was experimentally demonstrated in quasiperiodic metallic structures.

We investigated photoluminescence (PL) from one-dimensional photonic band gap structures. The photonic crystals, a Fabry–Perot (FP) resonator and a coupled-microcavity (CMC) structure, were fabricated by using alternating hydrogenated amorphous-silicon-nitride and hydrogenated amorphous-silicon-oxide layers. It was observed that these structures strongly modify the PL spectra from optically active amorphous-silicon-nitride thin films. Narrow-band and wide-band PL spectra were achieved in the FP microcavity and the CMC structure, respectively. The angle dependence of PL peak of the FP resonator was also investigated. We also observed that the spontaneous emission increased drastically at the coupled-cavity band edge of the CMC structure due to extremely low group velocity and long photon lifetime. The measurements agree well with the transfer-matrix method results and the prediction of the tight-binding approximation.

We report experimental observation of a full photonic band gap in a two-dimensional Penrose lattice made of dielectric rods. Tightly confined defect modes having high quality factors were observed. Absence of the translational symmetry in Penrose lattice was used to change the defect frequency within the stop band. We also achieved the guiding and bending of electromagnetic waves through a row of missing rods. Propagation of photons along highly localized coupled-cavity modes was experimentally demonstrated and analyzed within the tight-binding approximation.

We have experimentally demonstrated the guiding, bending, and splitting of electromagnetic (EM) waves in highly confined waveguides built around three-dimensional layer-by-layer photonic crystals by removing a single rod. Full transmission of the EM waves was observed for straight and bended waveguides. We also investigated the power splitter structures in which the input EM power could be efficiently divided into the output waveguide ports. The experimental results, dispersion relation and photon lifetime, were analyzed with a theory based on the tight-binding photon picture. Our results provide an important tool for designing photonic crystal based optoelectronic components.

We investigate thermodynamic properties of noninteracting charged bosons in the presence of externally applied electric and magnetic fields. Using the semiclassical density of states, we obtain the condensate fraction, chemical potential, total energy, and specific heat of a system of finite number of charged Bose particles. We conclude that Bose–Einstein condensation of the charged Bose gas occurs in the crossed electric and magnetic fields.

We report on fabrication of a layer-by-layer photonic crystal using highly doped silicon wafers processed by semiconductor micromachining techniques. The crystals, built using (100) silicon wafers, resulted in an upper stop band edge at 100 GHz. The transmission and defect characteristics of these structures were found to be analogous to metallic photonic crystals. We also investigated the effect of doping concentration on the defect characteristics. The experimental results agree well with predictions of the transfer matrix method simulations.

We report on the observation of a new type of propagation mechanism through evanescent coupled optical cavity modes in one-dimensional photonic crystals. The crystal is fabricated from alternating silicon-oxide/silicon-nitride pairs with silicon-oxide cavity layers. We achieved nearly full transmission throughout the guiding band of the periodic coupled cavities within the photonic band gap. The tight-binding (TB) parameter κ is determined from experimental results, and the dispersion relation, group velocity and photon lifetime corresponding to the coupled-cavity structures are analyzed within the TB approximation. The measurements are in good agreement with transfer-matrix-method simulations and predictions of the TB photon picture.

We proposed and demonstrated two different methods to split electromagnetic waves in three-dimensional photonic crystals. By measuring transmission spectra, it was shown that the guided mode in a coupled-cavity waveguide can be splitted into the coupled-cavity or planar waveguide channels without radiation losses. The flow of electromagnetic waves through output waveguide ports can also be controlled by introducing extra defects into the crystals. Our results may have an important role in the design of efficient power splitters in a photonic circuit.

We report on measurements of delay time corresponding to evanescent coupled-cavity modes in three-dimensional photonic crystals. By creating a defect inside the crystal, photons are confined within a boxlike cavity of volume ~(λ/2)³ It is observed that photon lifetime increases drastically and group velocity of photons tends towards zero at the waveguiding band edges of the periodic coupled cavities. Experimental results are well explained within the classical wave analog of the tight-binding picture. Observation of the extremely small group velocity and long photon lifetime at the coupled-cavity waveguide band edges have important potential applications.

A new type of waveguiding mechanism in three-dimensional photonic band-gap structures is demonstrated. Photons propagate through strongly localized defect cavities due to coupling between adjacent cavity modes. High transmission of the electromagnetic waves, nearly 100%, is observed for various waveguide structures even if the cavities are placed along an arbitrarily shaped path. The dispersion relation of the waveguiding band is obtained from transmission-phase measurements, and this relation is well explained within the tight-binding photon picture. The coupled-cavity waveguides may have practical importance for development of optoelectronic components and circuits.

We have experimentally observed the eigenmode splitting due to coupling of the evanescent defect modes in three-dimensional photonic crystals. The splitting was well explained with a theory based on the classical wave analog of the tight-binding (TB) formalism in solid state physics. The experimental results were used to extract the TB parameters. A new type of waveguiding in a photonic crystal was demonstrated experimentally. A complete transmission was achieved throughout the entire waveguiding band. We have also obtained the dispersion relation for the waveguiding band of the coupled periodic defects from the transmission-phase measurements and from the TB calculations.

We investigate the radiation properties of an antenna that was formed by a hybrid combination of a monopole radiation source and a cavity built around a dielectric layer-by-layer three-dimensional photonic crystal. We measured a maximum directivity of 310, and a power enhancement of 180 at the resonant frequency of the cavity. We observed that the antenna has a narrow bandwidth determined by the cavity, where the resonant frequency can be tuned within the band gap of the photonic crystal. The measured radiation patterns agree well with our theoretical results.

We study the localization properties of a two-dimensional noninteracting electron gas in the presence of randomly distributed short-range scatterers in very high magnetic fields. We evaluate the participation number of the eigenstates obtained by exact diagonalization technique. At low impurity concentrations we obtain self-averaged values showing that all states, except those exactly at the Landau level, are localized with finite localization length. We conclude that in this dilute regime the localization length does not diverge. We also find that the maximum localization length increases exponentially with impurity concentration. Our calculations suggest that scaling behavior may be absent even for higher concentrations of scatterers.

We studied the effects of nonmagnetic impurities on high-temperature superconductors by solving the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations on a two-dimensional lattice via exact diagonalization technique in a fully self-consistent way. We found that s-wave order parameter is almost unaffected by impurities at low concentrations while d x 2 – y 2-wave order parameter exhibits a strong linear decrease with impurity concentration. We evaluated the critical impurity concentration nci at which superconductivity ceases to be 0.1 which is in good agreement with experimental values. We also investigated how the orthorhombic nature of the crystal structure affects the suppression of superconductivity and found that anisotropy induces an additional s-wave component. Our results support d x 2 – y 2-wave symmetry for tetragonal and s + d x 2 – y 2-wave symmetry for orthorhombic structure.

We examine the possibility of Bose-Einstein condensation in one-dimensional interacting Bose gas subjected to confining potentials of the form $V_{\mathrm{ext}}{\left(x\right)=V}_0(|x|{/a)}^{\gamma },$ in which $\gamma <2,$ by solving the Gross-Pitaevskii equation within the semiclassical two-fluid model. The condensate fraction, chemical potential, ground state energy, and specific heat of the system are calculated for various values of interaction strengths. Our results show that a significant fraction of the particles is in the lowest energy state for a finite number of particles at low temperature, indicating a phase transition for weakly interacting systems.

We study the Bose-Einstein condensation phenomenon in a two-dimensional (2D) system of bosons subjected to a harmonic-oscillator-type confining potential. The interaction among the 2D bosons is described by a δ function in configuration space. Solving the Gross-Pitaevskii equation within the two-fluid model we calculate the condensate fraction, ground-state energy, and specific heat of the system. Our results indicate that interacting bosons have similar behavior to those of an ideal system for weak interactions.

A method, analogous to supersymmetry transformation in quantum mechanics, is developed for a particle in the lowest Landau level moving in an arbitrary potential. The method is applied to two-dimensional potentials formed by Dirac δ scattering centers. In the periodic case, the problem is solved exactly for rational values of the magnetic flux (in units of flux quantum) per unit cell. The spectrum is found to be self-similar, resembling the Hofstadter butterfly [Phys. Rev. B 14, 2239 (1976)].