Premium
Tuning the Refractive Index of Polymers for Polymer Waveguides Using Nanoscaled Ceramics or Organic Dyes
Author(s) -
Böhm J.,
Haußelt J.,
Henzi P.,
Litfin K.,
Hanemann T.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
advanced engineering materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.938
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1527-2648
pISSN - 1438-1656
DOI - 10.1002/adem.200300542
Subject(s) - materials science , polymer , refractive index , cladding (metalworking) , ceramic , high refractive index polymer , all silica fiber , optical fiber , composite material , optoelectronics , optics , fiber , plastic optical fiber , fiber optic sensor , physics
Plastic Optical Fibers (POF) show advantageous properties like high flexibility and their cost advantage in comparison to glass fibers. The refractive indices of core and cladding have to be modified in order to get total reflectance. Thus, there is a strong demand for refractive index adjustable polymers with improved transmission properties in the visible and the NIR range. Inorganic nanosized particles or organic dyes homogeniously dispersed or solved in the polymer matrix allow a tailored increase or decrease of the refractive index of various polymers.