Photoreduction in Optofluidic Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber

Optofluidic hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HC-PCF) uniquely allows light to be guided at the centre of a microfluidic channel. The system maximizes the interaction of light with infiltrated chemicals and (nano)particles, offering unique opportunities for in-situ optical monitoring of a range of photochemical and catalytic reactions [1,2]. Our current goal is to extend this work to hybrid colloidal systems comprising a particulate light absorber and a molecular catalyst for photocatalytic fuel production [3]. Here we use HC-PCF microreactors to study novel light-absorbing particles for such systems: graphitic, N-doped, and amorphous carbon-nanodots (CNDs) that offer a unique combination of scalability, biocompatibility, water solubility, and stable optical properties [4].