Special photosensitive glass for one-step 3D laser direct writing of photonic component

The subject concerns the fabrication of micro-structured photonic materials for telecommunication photonic circuit, quanttum technology and data storage archival. Glass turns out to be a material of choice thanks to its intrinsic transparency if one can locally control the optical properties in 3D (refractive index, absorption, emission) and this at different scales: on the micron scale corresponding to that of the wavelength, but also on few tens of nanometers. 2D/3D nano-structuring will allow developing artificial materials with new or enhanced properties necessary for integrated optics. It would open the way to “freeform” optical systems that will combine different functions in a single component. Recently, several research groups have demonstrated that Laser glass interaction using specially designed photosensitive materials is a promising approach for developing 3D structured optical components.

The research program will be conducted at LIGHTTech on the campus of Bordeaux University (https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighttech-bordeaux/posts/?feedView=all). The center is equiped with state of the art micro and nano fabrication technology, fiber tower and advanced characterization facilities. 

Femtosecond direct laser writing (FDLW) in glass containing photosensitive ions allows fabricating 3D photonic architectures for integrated optic application. However the existing materials are often not appropriate for FDLW. The project proposes to overcome most of the obstacles by developing original photosensitive glassy materials suitable for 3D or 4D manufacturing processes by femtosecond laser. The project will allow fabricating structured materials by using multiphoton printing processes to achieve a resolution as low as 50 nm to design new photonic functionalities in the different spectral ranges from visible to Mid-IR. Depending on the objective, the composition of the materials will be adapted to the targeted transparency domain.

The project proposed will focus on the development of adapted novel photosensitive oxide glass for fabricating 3D structured photonic component. The candidate with background on chemistry or material science will be part of a multidisciplinary consortium gathering physicists specialist in femtosecond laser interaction and chemists aiming to develop photosensitive materials and 3D structure. The PhD will focus on the development of photosensitive materials and the characterization of photo-induced 3D structures written by Laser.

Main aspects developed during the project:

Synthesis of new glass compositions 

Fiber drawing of materials for infrared and mid-infrared.

Physicochemical and structural characterizations (Raman, NMR, luminescence, AFM, Electron microscopies: SEM, TEM, EDS, Auger).

Optical characterizations and laser functionality tests.

The “Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux” (UMR5026) is a Joint Research Unit of the CNRS, of the University of Bordeaux and Bordeaux INP. The ICMCB has strong expertise in solid state chemistry, materials science and chemical processing. It uses this know-how for the development of new materials and new concepts for materials synthesis, shaping and recycling, covering the application fields energy, environment, health, electronics and photonics.

The PhD will be conducted in the ICMCB-LIGHTTech. At the heart of the University of Bordeaux, LightTECH brings together researchers and teacher-researchers, experts in materials, components and photonics.

Candidate profile

Master in matérial chemistry or material science