Optical fiber for sensing an analyte, methods of forming and using the same

1. An optical fiber for sensing an analyte, the optical fiber comprising:

a dielectric core wall defining a hollow space;

a cladding layer surrounding the dielectric core wall and spaced apart from the dielectric core wall; and

a plurality of supports extending from the cladding layer to the dielectric core wall;

wherein a thickness of the dielectric core wall is greater than a thickness of each of the plurality of supports;

wherein the dielectric core wall is configured to carry an optical light for sensing the analyte;

wherein each of the plurality of supports forms a secondary hollow space or open apex with the dielectric core wall; and

wherein a joint between each support and the dielectric core wall has a thickness less than or equal to the thickness of each support; and/or

wherein a joint between each support and the dielectric core wall has a thickness less than or equal to the thickness of the dielectric core wall.

2. The optical fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the dielectric core wall comprises a glass material or a polymer material.

3. The optical fiber according to claim 2 , wherein the glass material is silica, borosilicate glass, tellurite glass, or chalcogenide glass.

4. The optical fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the dielectric core wall is any one value selected from a range from 0.1 μm to 5 μm.

5. The optical fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness of each of the plurality of supports is any one value selected from a range from 0.05 μm to less than 5 μm.

6. The optical fiber according to claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the dielectric core wall is any one value selected from a range from 3 μm 2 to 2×10 5 μm 2 .

7. The optical fiber according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of supports is a strut.

8. The optical fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of supports, the dielectric core wall and the cladding layer define multiple holes.

9. The optical fiber according to claim 8 , wherein a sum of inner surfaces of the multiple holes is any one value selected from a range from 5 μm 2 to 8×10 5 μm 2 .

10. The optical fiber according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of nanostructures arranged along an inner circumference and an outer circumference of the dielectric core wall.

11. The optical fiber according to claim 1 , wherein at least one end portion of the optical fiber is tapered.

12. The optical fiber according to claim 11 , wherein a diameter of the dielectric core wall at the at least one tapered end portion of the optical fiber is less than a diameter of the dielectric core wall at a middle portion of the optical fiber.

13. The optical fiber according to claim 11 , wherein the dielectric core wall at the at least one tapered end portion of the optical fiber has a solid core.

14. A method of forming an optical fiber for sensing an analyte, the method comprising:

forming a dielectric core wall defining a hollow space;

forming a cladding layer surrounding the dielectric core wall and spaced apart from the dielectric core wall;

forming a plurality of supports extending from the cladding layer to the dielectric core wall;

wherein a thickness of the dielectric core wall is greater than a thickness of each of the plurality of supports;

wherein the dielectric core wall is configured to carry an optical light for sensing the analyte;

wherein each of the plurality of supports forms a secondary hollow space or open apex with the dielectric core wall;

wherein a joint between each support and the dielectric core wall has a thickness less than or equal to the thickness of each support; and/or

wherein a joint between each support and the dielectric core wall has a thickness less than or equal to the thickness of the dielectric core wall.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein at least one end portion of the optical fiber is tapered.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein a diameter of the dielectric core wall at the at least one tapered end portion of the optical fiber is less than a diameter of the dielectric core wall at a middle portion of the optical fiber.

17. A method of using an optical fiber for sensing an analyte, the method comprising:

providing the analyte to the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber comprises a dielectric core wall defining a hollow space, a cladding layer surrounding the dielectric core wall and spaced apart from the dielectric core wall, and a plurality of supports extending from the cladding layer to the dielectric core wall;

providing an optical light to the dielectric core wall which carries the optical light for sensing the analyte; and

determining the optical light at an output of the optical fiber;

wherein a thickness of the dielectric core wall is greater than a thickness of each of the plurality of supports;

wherein each of the plurality of supports forms a secondary hollow space or open apex with the dielectric core wall;

wherein a joint between each support and the dielectric core wall has a thickness less than or equal to the thickness of each support; and/or

wherein a joint between each support and the dielectric core wall has a thickness less than or equal to the thickness of the dielectric core wall.

18. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising:

arranging a plurality of nanostructures along an inner circumference and an outer circumference of the dielectric core wall.

19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the analyte is sensed via absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence-based detection, Surface Plasmon resonance method or Raman spectroscopy.