Multifunctional Bragg Fibers: To See, Hear, Sense, and Communicate Simultaneously

In this chapter, an intelligent and very fruitful application (see, hear, sense, and communicate) of Bragg fibers (BFs) designed through multifunctional, multilayered multi-materials will be discussed in detail. As we are aware, almost all electrical and optoelectronic devices need a complex arrangement of conducting, semiconducting, and insulating materials in precise shapes with interfaces that minimize scattering and feature dimensions. Several wafer-based processing methods have been created to meet these demands. However, these methods are limited by the size and shape of the wafer, as well as the intricate nature of the sequential, high-precision processing stages. On the other hand, the process of creating optical fibers by pulling them from a prepared rod is less complex and results in longer, more consistent fibers. Recently, a novel class of fibers consisting of conductors, semiconductors, and insulators has evolved. These fibers possess the fundamental characteristics of traditional electrical and optoelectronic devices but are manufactured using normal preform-based fiber-processing techniques, resulting in the production of functional fiber devices that span many kilometers in length. This study investigates two distinct methods for achieving complex functionalities: firstly, the incorporation of multiple functional components into a single fiber at the microscale level, and secondly, the construction of large-scale two- and three-dimensional geometric structures using multiple fibers. When utilized in conjunction, these two methodologies facilitate the development of versatile fabric systems.