Ultrafast laser processing: New options for three-dimensional photonic structures

Abstract

Using tightly focused ultrashort laser pulses allows the direct writing of three-dimensional photonic structures in different glasses and also crystalline media. One of the main drawbacks of this technology is, however, the limited writing speed achieved so far. In this paper we shall review our recent advances in the direct writing of three-dimensional integrated-optical devices and discuss a new approach using a fibre-based femtosecond laser system producing 300 fs pulses with pulse energies of 0.6 μJ at 2 MHz repetition rate. Using this laser system we fabricated low-loss waveguides (less than 0.5 dBcm^?1) at writing speeds of 100 mms^?1 for the first time. The influence of the writing speed on the produced structures as well as their optical properties will be discussed in detail.     

Scope and Limitations of the Intermolecular Furan‐Yne Cyclization

Different types of alkynes were reacted with 2,5‐disubstituted furans in order to evaluate the scope of the intermolecular furan‐yne reaction. With ethynyl aryl ethers as starting materials, 2‐phenoxy phenols were accessible in moderate to good yields. A different reaction mode was observed for alkynes bearing electron‐withdrawing substituents. For these starting materials a cis‐selective hydroarylation took place in an anti‐Markovnikov fashion in excellent yields. 1,2‐Diynes turned out to be suitable starting materials as well. Due to the second alkynyl moiety, after an initial phenol synthesis, a subsequent hydro‐alkoxylation by the newly formed phenolic oxygen gives access to benzofurans in a tandem process.

     

Transport processes at single droplets in micellar liquid/liquid systems

In many industrial applications, the knowledge of the occurring transport processes in liquid/liquid systems is of great interest to design a multiphase reactor or an extraction column, for instance. All transport processes in liquid/liquid systems are governed by the interface. In some processes surfactants are needed. Surfactants change many interfacial properties which affect the transport processes. In this work, the influence of high surfactant concentrations (micellar systems) on transport processes is regarded. To understand, the occurring reduction of the drop rise velocity and of mass transfer rates experimental investigations of the occurring interfacial phenomena are carried out. Therefore, interfacial tension measurements as well as colloidal probe atomic force measurements of liquid/liquid systems were conducted. It was proved that for high nonionic surfactant concentrations a change of the phase behavior must be taken into consideration to describe transport processes in micellar liquid/liquid systems. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 1092–1104, 2015     

Polymorphic calcium carbonate phases as adsorbents for allergens in natural rubber latex

Natural rubber latex contains different allergenic proteins and peptides that restrict its application in consumer products. Small mineral particles have a comparatively high specific surface area and are therefore well suited to adsorb such biomolecules. The adsorption of such biomolecules onto different polymorphic phases of calcium carbonate, i.e., calcite, aragonite, and vaterite, was quantitatively determined, both from solution as well as from cured natural rubber latex. All phases were able to adsorb the allergens, with slight differences between the different allergens. Desorption experiments showed differences between the allergens of natural rubber latex, but only small differences between the polymorphic phases of calcium carbonate. The release of the allergens from latex objects with incorporated calcium carbonate particles showed that a retention of allergens is possible by adding calcium carbonate as a filler material. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41271.