Intelligent nanomaterials for photonics
Physicists and chemists engineer optical fibers with 2D materials

Date:
October 7, 2020
Source:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena
Summary:
2D materials - combined with optical fibers - can enable novel
applications in the areas of sensors, non-linear optics, and quantum
technologies. However, combining these two components has so far
been very laborious. Typically, the atomically thin layers had
to be produced separately before being transferred by hand onto
optical fibers.

Researchers have now succeeded for the first time in growing 2D
materials directly on optical fibers. This approach facilitates
manufacturing of such hybrids.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
At the latest since the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for research
on graphene in 2010, 2D materials -- nanosheets with atomic thickness --
have been a hot topic in science.


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This significant interest is due to their outstanding properties,
which have enormous potential for a wide variety of applications. For
instance, combined with optical fibres, 2D materials can enable novel applications in the areas of sensors, non-linear optics, and quantum technologies. However, combining these two components has so far
been very laborious. Typically, the atomically thin layers had to be
produced separately before being transferred by hand onto the optical
fibre. Together with Australian colleagues, Jena researchers have
now succeeded for the first time in growing 2D materials directly on
optical fibres. This approach significantly facilitates manufacturing
of such hybrids.

The results of the study were reported recently in the journal on
materials science Advanced Materials.

Growth through a technologically relevant procedure "We integrated
transition metal dichalcogenides -- a 2D material with excellent optical
and photonic properties, which, for example, interacts strongly with light
-- into specially developed glass fibres," explains Dr Falk Eilenberger
of the University of Jena and the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied
Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF) in Germany. "Unlike in the past,
we did not apply the half-nanometre-thick sheet manually, but grew it
directly on the fibre," says Eilenberger, a specialist in the field
of nanophotonics. "This improvement means that the 2D material can be integrated into the fibre more easily and on a large scale. We were also
able to show that the light in the glass fibre strongly interacts with
its coating." The step to a practical application for the intelligent nanomaterial thus created is no longer very far away.

The success has been achieved thanks to a growth process developed at
the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the University of Jena, which
overcomes previous hurdles. "By analysing and controlling the growth parameters, we identified the conditions at which the 2D material can
directly grow in the fibres," says Jena 2D materials expert Prof. Andrey Turchanin, explaining the method based on chemical vapour deposition
(CVD) techniques. Among other things, a temperature of over 700 degrees
Celsius is necessary for the 2D material growth.

Hybrid material platform Despite this high temperature, the optical
fibres can be used for the direct CVD growth: "The pure quartz glass
that serves as the substrate withstands the high temperatures extremely
well. It is heat-resistant up to 2,000 degrees Celsius," says Prof. Markus
A. Schmidt of the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, who developed
the fibres. "Their small diameter and flexibility enable a variety of applications," adds Schmidt, who also holds an endowed professorship
for fibre optics at the University of Jena.



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The combination of 2D material and glass fibre has thus created an
intelligent material platform that combines the best of both worlds. "Due
to the functionalisation of the glass fibre with the 2D material, the interaction length between light and material has now been significantly increased," says Dr Antony George, who is developing the manufacturing
method for the novel 2D materials together with Turchanin.

Sensors and non-linear light converters The team envisages potential applications for the newly developed materials system in two particular
areas. Firstly, the materials combination is very promising for sensor technology. It could be used, for example, to detect low concentrations
of gases. To this end, a green light sent through the fibre picks up information from the environment at the fibre areas functionalised with
the 2D material. As external influences change the fluorescent properties
of the 2D material, the light changes colour and returns to a measuring
device as red light. Since the fibres are very fine, sensors based on
this technology might also be suitable for applications in biotechnology
or medicine.

Secondly, such a system could also be used as a non-linear light
converter. Due to its non-linear properties, the hybrid optical fibre can
be employed to convert a monochromatic laser light into white light for spectroscopy applications in biology and chemistry. The Jena researchers
also envisage applications in the areas of quantum electronics and
quantum communication.

Exceptional interdisciplinary cooperation The scientists involved in this development emphasise that the success of the project was primarily due
to the exceptional interdisciplinary cooperation between various research institutes in Jena. Based on the Thuringian research group "2D-Sens" and
the Collaborative Research Centre "Nonlinear Optics down to Atomic Scales"
of Friedrich Schiller University, experts from the Institute of Applied
Physics and Institute of Physical Chemistry of the University of Jena;
the University's Abbe Center of Photonics; the Fraunhofer Institute for
Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF; and the Leibniz Institute
of Photonic Technology are collaborating on this research, together with colleagues in Australia.

"We have brought diverse expertise to this project and we are delighted
with the results achieved," says Eilenberger. "We are convinced that
the technology we have developed will further strengthen the state
of Thuringia as an industrial centre with its focus on photonics
and optoelectronics," adds Turchanin. A patent application for the interdisciplinary team's invention has recently been filed.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet_Jena. Original written by Sebastian
Hollstein. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Gia Quyet Ngo, Antony George, Robin Tristan Klaus Schock, Alessandro
Tuniz, Emad Najafidehaghani, Ziyang Gan, Nils C. Geib, Tobias
Bucher, Heiko Knopf, Sina Saravi, Christof Neumann, Tilman Lu"hder,
Erik P.

Schartner, Stephen C. Warren‐Smith, Heike
Ebendorff‐Heidepriem, Thomas Pertsch, Markus A. Schmidt,
Andrey Turchanin, Falk Eilenberger. Scalable Functionalization
of Optical Fibers Using Atomically Thin Semiconductors. Advanced
Materials, 2020; 2003826 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202003826 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201007123045.htm

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