Few-mode optical fiber-based flexible pressure feedback tentacle doped with fluorescence temperature pointer

Abstract

In this paper, a flexible fiber pressure feedback whisker is proposed, which consists of a water droplet shaped polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer with an embedded balloon shaped few mode fiber. The mechanical sensing performance of the device was analyzed and optimized using a combination of finite element method (FEM) and beam propagation method (BPM). The built-in cladding corroded few-mode fiber (FMF) increases pressure sensitivity by more than 4 times. The collection efficiency of fluorescence signal is improved by cladding corrosion. The PDMS elastomer was doped with upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) NaYF4:Yb, Er@NaYF4 in order to achieve temperature measurement by fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) technology. The combination of fluorescence signal and interference spectrum can not only achieve real-time and accurate pressure detection at different temperatures, but also incorporate fluorescent materials into flexible bionic skin for temperature self-compensation, which has potential application value for the development of bionic fiber micro-nano sensing and control devices.