3D printing-based photonic waveguides, fibers, and applications

Along with the ever expanding frontiers of photonic applications as the world is fast advancing into the information era, there is a growing market for specialty photonic waveguides and fibers requiring sophisticated structures and materials that conventional manufacturing technologies meet great challenges and difficulties to accommodate. Advanced 3D printing or additive manufacturing possesses great flexibility in structure and diversity in material and is emerging as an essential alternative in developing novel specialty photonic waveguides, fibers, and devices for new photonic applications. This paper reviews 3D printing-based photonic waveguides, fibers, and their applications in terms of basic material and processing techniques, fundamental principles and mechanisms, current research and development, and remaining technical problems and challenges.