Chemiluminescence detection in liquid-core microstructured optical fibers

We reported the first measurement of chemiluminescence photon emission in microstructured optical fibers (MOFs). The hollow-core of a polymer MOF was infiltrated with fluid to support an index-guiding mechanism. The selective filling method involved sealing the cladding air-holes during polishing, leaving the hollow core available for the chemiluminescence solution. Experimental results, compared with a solid-core index-guiding fiber, indicated that the luminescent intensity collected was highly improved by the hollow-core structure. Due to the robustness and flexibility of optical fibers, the MOF can be coiled, making it suitable for microchip integration. Moreover, this novel technique of luminescence emission inside a channel will eliminate the difficulty in coupling alignment of optical waveguide to light sources.