Sol–gel silica glass-cladding semiconductor-core optical fiber

International audience; Hybrid optical fibers consisting of glass clad and semiconductor core materials are extensively investigated dueto their interesting properties that make them attractive for several technological applications. Here, we reporton a new approach for the fabrication of such multi-material optical fiber preform using the sol–gel technique. Itconsists in mechanically drilling a central hole in a silica xerogel rod, then in filling this hole with a centimeterlengthsilicon rod, and finally in densifying the silica glass jacket around the silicon core. By drawing thispreform, a homogenous hybrid rod-type fiber was obtained. The composition and the structural properties of thepristine silicon rod, of the hybrid preform and of the drawn fiber have been investigated using electron probemicroanalysis, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. We have shown that the silicon corematerial preserves its composition and polycrystalline structure all along the fabrication process.