Abstract: Provided herein is a fiber having a fiber body including fiber body material with a longitudinal-axis fiber body length. A plurality of gel domains is disposed within the fiber body along at least a portion of the longitudinal-axis fiber body length. Each gel domain includes a porous host matrix material and a liquid gel component that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the host matrix material and that is disposed in interstices of the host material matrix. At least two of the gel domains within the fiber body are disposed directly adjacent to each other in direct physical contact with each other. This fiber can include polymeric fiber body material and gel domains including a porous polymer host matrix material and an ionically conducting liquid solvent that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the polymer host matrix material and disposed in interstices of the polymer host material matrix.

Abstract: Provided herein is a fiber having a fiber body including fiber body material with a longitudinal-axis fiber body length. A plurality of gel domains is disposed within the fiber body along at least a portion of the longitudinal-axis fiber body length. Each gel domain includes a porous host matrix material and a liquid gel component that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the host matrix material and that is disposed in interstices of the host material matrix. At least two of the gel domains within the fiber body are disposed directly adjacent to each other in direct physical contact with each other. This fiber can include polymeric fiber body material and gel domains including a porous polymer host matrix material and an ionically conducting liquid solvent that is entrapped in the molecular structure of the polymer host matrix material and disposed in interstices of the polymer host material matrix.

Abstract: There is provided a sensor fiber including an electrically insulating material having a fiber length. At least one transduction element is disposed along at least a portion of the fiber length and is arranged for exposure to an intake species. A photoconducting element is in optical communication with the transduction element. At least one pair of electrically conducting electrodes are in electrical connection with the photoconducting element. The pair of electrodes extend the fiber length.

Abstract: Provided is a fiber having an elongated, unsupported, three-dimensional fiber body with a fiber body length and at least one fiber material disposed along the fiber body length. The at least one fiber material has a viscosity lower than about 108 Poise at a common thermal fiber draw temperature. At least one topological pattern is disposed on at least one surface of the fiber body and extends longitudinally along at least a portion of the fiber body length. To form the fiber, there is assembled a fiber preform including at least one preform material. A surface of at least one preform material is patterned and arranged as a fiber preform surface, providing a topological pattern on a fiber preform surface. The fiber preform is thermally drawn into an elongated fiber at a fiber draw temperature at which all preform materials have a viscosity lower than about 108 Poise.

Abstract: There is provided a sensor fiber including an electrically insulating material having a fiber length. At least one transduction element is disposed along at least a portion of the fiber length and is arranged for exposure to an intake species. A photoconducting element is in optical communication with the transduction element. At least one pair of electrically conducting electrodes are in electrical connection with the photoconducting element. The pair of electrodes extend the fiber length.

Abstract: A safety socket includes one or more pairs of terminals for engaging with a plug and a cover for covering the terminals. The cover has one or more pairs of apertures aligned with the terminals for allowing the plug to engage with the terminals. One or more knobs are rotatably secured to the cover and each has a pair of orifices for aligning with the apertures of the cover. A spring may rotate the knob relative to the cover and for disengaging the orifices from the apertures and for preventing the plug to engage through the orifices and the apertures inadvertently.