Carbon–polydimethylsiloxane-based integratable optical technology for spectroscopic analysis

A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based optical system has been demonstrated. To suppress intense background radiation due to multiple internal scatting in a transparent material, a composite structure of a carbon–PDMS compound and PDMS was proposed. The index matching of the real part of the refractive index can suppress internal scattering, and an absorption of 99–99.7% was attained by using carbon micro particles and carbon nano tubes. The black-PDMS light channel functions as a light filter for straight pass, and an optical density of 5 was obtained by bending the filter. [Display omitted] •Novel optical material complex of PDMS/black-PDMS is characterized.•A straight light channel works as particular light-guide reducing stray light.•The complex performs light trapping of 99.7% in absorbance per single scattering.•An absorption coefficient of 7.2×102cm−1 was obtained with 10wt% carbon doping in the black-PDMS coating.