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SUMMARY:Optofluidic hollow-core photonic crystal fibre - Dr Tijmen Euser (
 University of Cambridge)
DTSTART:20220519T103000Z
DTEND:20220519T113000Z
UID:TALK174605@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Catherine Pearson
DESCRIPTION:Liquid-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fibres (HC-PCF) are
  excellent optofluidic microreactors in which light propagates in well-def
 ined modes at the centre of a microchannel [1]. They enable efficient phot
 ochemistry\, photo-switching\, and photocatalysis at optical powers that a
 re five orders of magnitude lower than in conventional reactors [1]. In ad
 dition\, sample volumes in HC-PCF can be as small as a few nL per cm inter
 action length while meter-long optical paths enable sensitive absorption\,
  fluorescence\, and Raman spectroscopy.\n\nIn my talk\, I will discuss how
  optofluidic HC-PCF can help improve our understanding of photochemical an
 d electrochemical processes relevant to the green energy transition.\n\nFi
 rst\, we demonstrate an operando Raman spectroscopy method that tracks the
  chemistry of liquid electrolytes during battery cycling. An optofluidic h
 ollow-core fibre is integrated into a working Li: ion cell and used to ana
 lyse sub-microlitre electrolyte samples at different stages of the charge-
 discharge cycle by background-free Raman spectroscopy. The observed change
 s in electrolyte composition are related to the solid electrolyte interpha
 se (SEI) formation and can reveal early signs of battery degradation [2].\
 n\nSecond\, we use HC-PCF\, connected to microfluidic coupling cells\, to 
 optimise photocatalytic “solar-fuel” generation in hybrid colloidal sy
 stems that combine molecular catalysts with particulate light absorbers. W
 e focus on carbon-nanodots\, one of the most promising light-absorber mate
 rials\, due to their unique combination of scalability\, biocompatibility\
 , water solubility\, and stable optical properties [3]. Key to improving t
 heir performance in solar catalysis are charge-transfer processes that we 
 investigate and optimise through fibre-based absorption [4]\, fluorescence
  [8]\, and Raman spectroscopy [9].\n\nFinally\, I will briefly discuss how
  holographic spatial light modulation techniques can be used to excite hig
 her-order modes in HC-PCFs\, with the aim to selectively probe surface- an
 d bulk processes within optofluidic microreactors [7\,8].
LOCATION:Open Plan Area\, BP Institute\, Madingley Rise CB3 0EZ
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