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Novel elastomeric spiropyran-doped poly(dimethylsiloxane) optical waveguide for UV sensing.
Camila Aparecida Zimmermann1, Koffi Novignon Amouzou1, Dipankar Sengupta1
1Department of Electrical Engineering, École de Technologie Supérieure, Montreal, QC, H3C 1K3, Canada.
Frontiers of Optoelectronics
|July 15, 2024
Summary
Novel UV-sensitive optical waveguides were developed using poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) doped with spiropyran derivatives. These elastomeric waveguides demonstrate tunable UV sensing capabilities for smart optical materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is a versatile elastomer.
- Spiropyran derivatives (SP) exhibit photochromic properties.
- Elastomeric waveguides with tunable optical properties are of interest.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate novel PDMS-doped spiropyran (SP) materials for elastomeric waveguides.
- To evaluate their UV-dependent optical properties and photochromic response.
- To demonstrate UV sensing capabilities using these waveguides.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of free-standing films and waveguides from SP-doped PDMS.
- Assessment of photochromic response, kinetics, reversibility, and photofatigue.
- Fabrication and testing of waveguides as UV sensors using a 633 nm laser.
Main Results:
- Successful UV sensing demonstrated with a specific SP-doped PDMS waveguide.
- Measured propagation loss of 1.04 dB/cm at 633 nm.
- High sensitivity (115% change/UV dose), fast response (42s decay, 107s recovery), and reversible behavior observed.
Conclusions:
- SP-doped PDMS waveguides are effective UV sensors with tunable parameters.
- The materials show promise for applications in elastomeric optics and smart optical materials.
- Reversible and consistent sensing performance, even under bending, was achieved.
