Eric Fujiwara, Hiromasa Oku, Cristiano M. B. Cordeiro
{"title":"Recent developments in agar-based optical devices","authors":"Eric Fujiwara, Hiromasa Oku, Cristiano M. B. Cordeiro","doi":"10.1557/s43579-024-00558-z","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Biocompatible optical devices are breakthrough illumination, imaging, and biomedical sensing technologies. Despite the noteworthy developments in silk, cellulose, and hydrogel-based optics, such approaches rely on expensive precursors and intricate fabrication. Therefore, agar extracted from red algae emerges as a promising biodegradable alternative as an edible, low-cost, and renewable material. This paper overviews the state-of-the-art of agar-based optical devices. Firstly, we revisit this phycocolloid’s fundamentals and highlight its appealing mechanical, optical, and electrical characteristics. Subsequently, we summarize the available agar elements, slab waveguides, and optical fibers. Lastly, we discuss their advantages and challenges by envisaging opportunities for future developments and applications.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Graphical Abstract</h3>\n","PeriodicalId":19016,"journal":{"name":"MRS Communications","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"MRS Communications","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1557/s43579-024-00558-z","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Biocompatible optical devices are breakthrough illumination, imaging, and biomedical sensing technologies. Despite the noteworthy developments in silk, cellulose, and hydrogel-based optics, such approaches rely on expensive precursors and intricate fabrication. Therefore, agar extracted from red algae emerges as a promising biodegradable alternative as an edible, low-cost, and renewable material. This paper overviews the state-of-the-art of agar-based optical devices. Firstly, we revisit this phycocolloid’s fundamentals and highlight its appealing mechanical, optical, and electrical characteristics. Subsequently, we summarize the available agar elements, slab waveguides, and optical fibers. Lastly, we discuss their advantages and challenges by envisaging opportunities for future developments and applications.
期刊介绍:
MRS Communications is a full-color, high-impact journal focused on rapid publication of completed research with broad appeal to the materials community. MRS Communications offers a rapid but rigorous peer-review process and time to publication. Leveraging its access to the far-reaching technical expertise of MRS members and leading materials researchers from around the world, the journal boasts an experienced and highly respected board of principal editors and reviewers.