Phosphate-based Hybrid Fibers – PhosFyb

To efficiently treat the research project we will combine the adapted resources and local expertise and implement an effective management between different tasks. In order to guaranty the success of the program, the strategy will be to select the most suitable material for the targeted application, to develop the fiberization technique, to test and adopt innovative geometry and to establish correlation between fiber architectures, materials chemistry and properties.

Dr. Danto will be the Project coordinator of the PhosFyb project. He is the recent laureate of a two-year post-doctoral fellowship provided within the framework of the ‘Initiative of Excellence’ (IdEx) of the University of Bordeaux. In line with this program, the support of the ANR@RAction 2014 allows to further strengthen the development of the fiber-drawing platform at UBx and its associated research. We are confident that funding gradually emanating from public and/or private partners will enable the development of the program over time.

Research progresses
* Development of photo-sensitive, photo-writable silver-containing phosphate glass ribbon fibers.
* A first peer-reviewed publication (S. Danto et al. «Photowritable silver-containing phosphate glass ribbon fibers« Adv. Opt. Mat. (2016) 4, 162) and multiple national/international presentations in reviewed-committee (14 oral presentations, 4 posters).

FR/WO patent
One French patent («Fibre optique ruban en verre photosensible« Patent CNRS #FR1554379 - 2016). The request for the World extension of the patent has recently received a favorable response from the International Patents Office.

Additional funding
* Project « NeoPhos » – Risky LAPHIA
* Projet « FabMat » - Région Aquitaine

Equipment
Setting of a soft-glass draw-tower at the ICMCB-UBx

The assembly of hybrid multi-materials macroscopic preforms and their drawing offers a new and exciting challenge to the teams involved in the project. Overall the objectives of the PhosFyb project are
(i) to develop new fiber-based technological paradigms
(ii) to expand the range of materials suitable for co-drawing
(iii) to enhance the device packing density and interface quality
(iv) to propose specialty fibers with new or improved functionalities that stem from altering the materials composition and arrangements.

* Publication: S. Danto et al. «Photowritable silver-containing phosphate glass ribbon fibers« Adv. Opt. Mat. (2016) 4, 162

* Presentations: 14 orals, 4 posters

* Patent
«Fibre optique ruban en verre photosensible« Patent CNRS #FR1554379 - 2016

Fiber drawing offers a promising alternative method for adapting materials to application requirements. Here, taking full profit of the locale, fertile scientific ecosystem, we envision implementing a new capability and research activity at the University of Bordeaux (UBx) to develop innovative solution for the shaping and functionalization of hybrid materials through fiber drawing.

The Phosphate-based Hybrid Fibers (PhosFyb) project encompasses four primary Tasks:

Task (A) Researching on functional glasses Involves the fabrication, purification and characterization of hybrid phosphate glasses with new or interesting properties (ex. laser damage resistance, incorporation of transition ions for high nonlinearity); investigation of their structure/property relationship

Task (B) Developing hybrid phosphate-based fibers for Laser gain and non-linear optic Developing promising properties linked to local partners problematic and/or with a strong potential for technological transfer (ex. high-power laser fiber, fibers for short fs/ps pulses, Kerr effect, selfphase modulation mode, 4-wave mixing, parametric effect)

Task (C) Multi-material fiber processing Identifying new set of materials (glass compositions, polymers, crystalline materials…) compatible with thermal co-drawing; Developing innovative fabrication instrumentation, protocols and functionalization sequences (in-preform chemistry; in-line and off-line femtosecond laser writing; in-fiber/on-fiber chemistry)

Task (D) Launching a new technological platform at UBx dedicated to fiber-drawing - During the PhosFyb project we will purchase and install dedicated equipment for the drawing of low-Tg glass systems and glass/polymer hybrid systems. In the meantime we will work in collaboration with the Prof. Smektala at the ICB / University of Bourgogne-Dijon to support advances on the drawing of multi-materials structures.

The assembly of hybrid multi-materials macroscopic preforms and their drawing offers a new and exciting challenge to the teams involved in the project. Overall the objectives of the PhosFyb project are (i) to develop new fiber-based technological paradigms; (ii) to expand the range of materials suitable for co-drawing; (iii) to enhance the device packing density and interface quality; and (iv) to propose specialty fibers with new or improved functionalities that stem from altering the materials composition and arrangements.

To efficiently treat the research project we will combine the adapted resources and local expertise and implement an effective management between different tasks. In order to guaranty the success of the program, the strategy will be to select the most suitable material for the targeted application, to develop the fiberization technique, to test and adopt innovative geometry and to establish correlation between fiber architectures, materials chemistry and properties.

Dr. Danto will be the Project coordinator of the PhosFyb project. He is the recent laureate of a two-year post-doctoral fellowship provided within the framework of the ‘Initiative of Excellence’ (IdEx) of the University of Bordeaux. This scientific program is expected to attract high-profile candidates willing to bring an innovative insight into a mature research topic, which fits into the site’s scientific priorities, and to strengthen the international network of the UBx. In line with this program, we are requesting the support of the ANR@RAction 2014 call for three years to further strengthen the development of the fiber-drawing platform at UBx and its associated research. We are confident that funding gradually emanating from public and/or private partners will enable the development of the program over time.