Fraunhofer develops polymer chips for many applications

Eleven regional enterprises and three research institutes pool their expertise in PolyPhotonics Berlin. For the first time, the network partners will be able to implement comprehensive solutions using optical components made of plastic, which are globally not yet available in this form.

The participants in this initiative want to create innovative materials and procedures for the production and as-sembly of photonic multiple-use components.

The PolyPhotonics Technology Platform provides a toolbox of hybrid-optical building blocks. Using suitable technologies, members of the initiative put these basic building blocks together to form flexible modules for integration into compact functional components of very flexible build (hybrid integration).

At the core of the platform is a chip with optical waveguides, which are made of plastic. This chip may feature further passive elements such as optical fibers, thin film filters and micro-optics as well as active elements such as photodiodes or laser chips.

In micro technological procedures, the latter components are connected to the waveguide chip. In the group's laboratories, the components are tested and become market-ready.

The unique aspect is the use of polymer as material for waveguide boards. This board is needed as component for the socket outlet of the future. This outlet must be ready when data arrive via fiber optic cable. The tiny 1 x 5 Millimeter polymer chips in those sockets will catch a lot of attention outside plug-in connectors as well.

Crispin Zawadzki, Project Manager of the PolyPhotonics Network, explains: "The existing technologies can no longer handle the tidal waves of data streams. In the final analysis, our common research goal is the creation of very small, very potent and very low-cost polymer chips.”