Fig. 1: Proof of concept for reconfigurable all-liquid optical fibers (RAOF).
From: Structured liquid-based reconfigurable all-liquid optical fibers
a Schematic illustration of the all-liquid 3D printing process enabled by the interfacial self-assembly and jamming of NPSs at the oil-water interface, and the resultant RAOF with the capacity of light propagation. b A liquid tubule with a wavy shape prepared by all-liquid 3D printing. c Microscopic image of the liquid tubule, corresponding to the curvature marked in (b). d Total reflection of the light at the oil-water interface due to the RID derived from the high RI of the water phase (nw) and low RI of the oil phase (no). Upper panel: schematic illustration of the total reflection at the interface between the water core and oil cladder; lower panel: dark field image of the total reflection at the oil-water interface. e The demonstration of the light propagation alongside the interior interface of the wavy shape RAOF. Inset: zoom-in figure of the RAOF end. f Picture of the wavy shape RAOF. g Schematic illustration for the application of RAOF when coupling in the practical communication system. Scale bars: c and d, 2 mm; e and f, 1 cm.
