Lab-in-a-Fiber Optofluidic Platform: In-Situ Assembly and Response of Layer-by-Layer Polyelectrolyte Films in Confined Geometry

光纤光流控实验室平台：有限几何结构中逐层聚电解质薄膜的原位组装和响应

• 批准号: 1206669
• 负责人: Henry Du
• 金额: $ 38.96万
• 依托单位: Stevens Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-01 至 2015-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1206669&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Lab; Fiber; Optofluidic; Platform; Situ

This project is jointly funded by the Electronic and Photonic Materials Program (EPM) in the Division of Materials Research (DMR) and the Electronics, Photonics, and Magnetic Devices Program (EPMD) in the Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS).Technical Description: This project is a theoretical and experimental investigation to integrate layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of functional polyelectrolyte thin films with a long-period grating structure inscribed in index-guided photonic crystal fiber. The integrated system represents a lab-in-a-fiber optofluidics platform by virtue of its high refractive index sensitivity and the feasibility for molecular/nanoscale functionalization in axially aligned cladding air channels. The research is designed to gain fundamental insights into distinct features of LbL growth in fiber and to probe the response of the LbL film to stimuli in confined geometry in order to demonstrate the feasibility of the integrated scheme for optofluidic sensors. Project activities entail (1) simulation of mode coupling in various lab-in-a-fiber configurations to determine optimal platform with the highest possible index sensitivity; (2) inscription of the grating structure with the simulation as a guide to realize mode coupling at prescribed resonant wavelengths; (3) deposition of LbL polyelectrolytes with different propensity to chain exchange with a multitude of parameters while measuring the shift in resonance wavelength in situ; and (4) evaluation of the pH response of polyacid-based hydrogels constructed via LbL in the lab-in-a-fiber platform. The central goals of this project are to (1) establish a novel lab-in-a-fiber optofluidics to study LbL deposition in situ; (2) provide important insights into the distinct features of LbL deposition and response in confined geometry; and (3) build a knowledge foundation for the exploration of lab-in-a-fiber optofluidic sensing.Non-technical Description: The research component of this project is to investigate layer-by-layer thin-film growth inside a special type of optical fiber, photonic crystal fiber with long-period grating structure, and to study the response of the thin film to stimuli in confined geometry. The success of the project is expected to bring to basic and applied research community and potentially the market place a transformative lab-in-a-fiber optofluidic stimuli-responsive platform for scientific exploration and technological applications. From educational perspective, this project engages doctoral students, undergraduate students, as well as high-school students. Dissemination of research results is achieved via various channels, including peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, web posting, and case studies in classrooms.

该项目由材料研究部（DMR）的电子和光子材料计划（EMT）和电气、通信和网络系统部（ECCS）的电子、光子和磁器件计划（EPMD）共同资助。技术描述：本计画是一个将逐层整合的理论与实验研究具有长周期光栅结构的功能性双折射薄膜在折射率引导的光子晶体光纤中的组装。该集成系统代表了一个实验室在一个光纤光流控平台，凭借其高折射率灵敏度和分子/纳米级功能化的可行性，在轴向对齐的包层空气通道。该研究的目的是获得基本的洞察力LbL生长在光纤中的独特功能，并探测LbL膜的响应，以证明集成方案的可行性，在有限的几何形状的刺激。项目活动包括：（1）模拟各种光纤实验室配置中的模式耦合，以确定具有最高折射率灵敏度的最佳平台;（2）以模拟为指导对光栅结构进行雕刻，以实现规定谐振波长下的模式耦合;（三）具有不同链交换倾向的LbL聚电解质的沉积与多个参数，同时测量共振波长的偏移，原地;和（4）在纤维实验室平台中通过LbL构建的基于多酸的水凝胶的pH响应的评价。该项目的主要目标是（1）建立一种新型的光纤实验室光流体技术，以研究LbL的原位沉积;（2）为LbL沉积的独特特征和受限几何结构中的响应提供重要见解;（3）为光纤实验室光流体传感的探索建立知识基础。非技术描述：本计画的研究内容是探讨一种特殊的光纤--长周期光栅结构光子晶体光纤内薄膜的逐层成长，以及薄膜在受限几何条件下对刺激的响应。该项目的成功预计将为基础和应用研究界带来一个变革性的光纤实验室光流体刺激响应平台，用于科学探索和技术应用。从教育的角度来看，该项目吸引了博士生、本科生以及高中生。研究成果的传播是通过各种渠道实现的，包括同行评议的出版物，会议演示，网络发布，并在课堂上的案例研究。