Solid-State Autocatalysis and Oscillatory Reactions in Thermally Processed Hydrogen Loaded Germanosilicate Fibres

Solid-state autocatalysis leading to oscillatory behaviour in GeOH and SiOH formation is demonstrated in optical fibres processed at 500o C. The results confirm the proposed view that hydrogen accelerates change in processed optical fibres principally through autocatalysis. Diffusion of OH through hydrogen hopping is thought to be instrumental in terminating this process.

To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of solid-state autocatalysis in a non-decomposing medium. The demonstration of complexity offers potentially much more sophisticated tailoring of thermally processed and UV processed device properties.