Nanoscopic tip sensors fabricated by gas phase etching of optical glass fibers

Silica-based fiber tips are used in a variety of spectroscopic, micro- or nano-scopic optical sensor applications and photonic micro-devices. The miniaturization of optical sensor systems and the technical implementation using optical fibers can provide new sensor designs with improved properties an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Photonic sensors (Berlin) Vol. 2; no. 4; pp. 331 - 339
Main Authors: Bierlich, Jörg, Kobelke, Jens, Brand, David, Kirsch, Konstantin, Dellith, Jan, Bartelt, Hartmut
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Beijing University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 01.12.2012
Subjects:
Lasers
Measurement Science and Instrumentation
Microwaves
Optical Devices
Optics
Photonics
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Regular
RF and Optical Engineering
doping
gas phase etching
Optical fiber tips
metal coating
nanoprobes
tip shaping
ISSN:1674-9251, 2190-7439
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Silica-based fiber tips are used in a variety of spectroscopic, micro- or nano-scopic optical sensor applications and photonic micro-devices. The miniaturization of optical sensor systems and the technical implementation using optical fibers can provide new sensor designs with improved properties and functionality for new applications. The selective-etching of specifically doped silica fibers is a promising method in order to form complex photonic micro structures at the end or within fibers such as tips and cavities in various shapes useful for the all-fiber sensor and imaging applications. In the present study, we investigated the preparation of geometrically predefined, nanoscaled fiber tips by taking advantage of the dopant concentration profiles of highly doped step-index fibers. For this purpose, a gas phase etching process using hydrofluoric acid (HF) vapor was applied. The shaping of the fiber tips was based on very different etching rates as a result of the doping characteristics of specific optical fibers. Technological studies on the influence of the etching gas atmosphere on the temporal tip shaping and the final geometry were performed using undoped and doped silica fibers. The influence of the doping characteristics was investigated in phosphorus-, germanium-, fluorine- and boron-doped glass fibers. Narrow exposed as well as protected internal fiber tips in various shapes and tip radiuses down to less than 15 nm were achieved and characterized geometrically and topologically. For investigations into surface plasmon resonance effects, the fiber tips were coated with nanometer-sized silver layers by means of vapour deposition and finally subjected to an annealing treatment.
ISSN:1674-9251
2190-7439
DOI:10.1007/s13320-012-0085-0