WOMBLE - waveguides and optical materials for biomedical and high resolution sensing applications using light enhancement

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This proposal is focused on the development of novel silica optical fibres which have enhanced Rayleigh scatter by post processing using the fibre's photosensitive response with UV light on the fibre pulling tower during the manufacture. We have shown very recently that UV exposure of an optical fibre dramatically increases the Rayleigh scatter by x100, which allows high sensitivity sensing temperature, strain or pressure with a high signal-to-noise ratio. This technique will enable high scatter optical fibre (ISOF) to be manufactured and protected with a polymer coating after post processing, ready for immediate use. Connected to this theme is the development of novel elastomeric photosensitive polymers, poly-dimethyl-siloxane (PDMS) based on the basic ingredient of the silica fibre -SiO2. The polymer will be synthesized to enhance its photosensitivity without compromising its mechanical properties, so that its elastomeric properties will be retained. 3D printing techniques will be developed to directly print complex structures and optical fibres for use with LED lighting and biomedical applications, e.g. in lab-on-a-chip.These two innovations of enhanced Rayleigh scatter and 3D printable stable photosensitive elastomers will greatly enhance the competitiveness of Canada in the world.