Glass Composite Fiber for Broadband NIR-II Mini Light Source

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Materials Science
• Biomedical Optics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Near-infrared second window (NIR-II) light sources (1000-1700 nm) offer significant potential for biomedical imaging and sensing.
• Existing NIR-II light sources are typically bulky, necessitating the development of miniaturized alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a compact, fiber-type light source emitting in the NIR-II region.
• To investigate the properties of nickel-activated glass composite fibers for NIR-II emission.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of transparent glass composite fibers activated with Ni²⁺.
• Characterization of the optical properties, including emission spectrum and internal quantum efficiency (IQE).
• Construction of an all-fiber mini light source by integrating the composite fibers with passive fibers.

Main Results:

• The glass composite demonstrated broadband NIR-II emission with a full width half-maximum (FWHM) of approximately 240 nm.
• An internal quantum efficiency (IQE) exceeding 50% was achieved through controlled nanocrystallization.
• The fiber-type light source exhibited efficient broadband response and on-off gain in the NIR-II region.
• Successful demonstration of NIR-II imaging applications using the developed all-fiber mini light source.

Conclusions:

• The developed Ni²⁺-activated glass composite fibers are effective for generating broadband NIR-II emission.
• The all-fiber mini light source represents a significant advancement in NIR-responsive photonic materials.
• This technology holds promise for enhancing applications in advanced photonic technologies, particularly in biomedical imaging.