4D Optical fibers based on shape-memory polymers

• Published in: Nature communications 2023-10, Vol.14 (1), p.6561-6561, Article 6561
• Main Authors: Strutynski, Clément, Evrard, Marianne, Désévédavy, Frédéric, Gadret, Grégory, Jules, Jean-Charles, Brachais, Claire-Hélène, Kibler, Bertrand, Smektala, Frédéric
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/301/1005/1006; 639/624/1075/187; 639/624/399/1028; Actuators; Automation; Chemical Sciences; Engineering Sciences; Evanescent waves; Fibers; Humanities and Social Sciences; Light transmission; Manufacturing engineering; Microfilaments; multidisciplinary; Optical fibers; Optical memory (data storage); Optics; Photonics; Physics; Polymers; Preforms; Robotics; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Shape memory; Spectroscopy; Thermoplastic resins
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42355-7

Adaptative objects based on shape-memory materials are expected to significantly impact numerous technological sectors including optics and photonics. In this work, we demonstrate the manufacturing of shape-memory optical fibers from the thermal stretching of additively manufactured preforms. First, we show how standard commercially-available thermoplastics can be used to produce long continuously-structured microfilaments with shape-memory abilities. Shape recovery as well as programmability performances of such elongated objects are assessed. Next, we open the way for light-guiding multicomponent fiber architectures that are able to switch from temporary configurations back to user-defined programmed shapes. In particular, we show that distinct designs of fabricated optical fibers can maintain efficient light transmission upon completion of multiple temperature-triggered bending/straightening cycles. Such fibers are also programmed into more complex shapes including coils or near 180 ° curvatures for delivering laser light around obstacles. Finally, a shape-memory exposed-core fiber is employed in fiber evanescent wave spectroscopy experiments to optimize the performance of the sensing scheme. We strongly expect that such actuatable fibers with light-guiding abilities will trigger exciting progress of unprecedented smart devices in the areas of photonics, electronics, or robotics. The authors demonstrate here a method for the production of arbitrarily long, light-guiding microstructured fibers with shape-memory properties. The showcased design of adaptative fibers here holds potential for the development of functional actuators and sensors.