System and method for optical fiber preform preparation via high-surface-area coating

A method for forming a glass, ceramic or composite preform material comprising:

• forming a matrix of glass including at least one of individual tubes or rods, the at least one of individual tubes or rods having surfaces individually coated with materials containing metal or metalloid elements to form a coated matrix of glass, wherein a surface area of the matrix of glass exceeds, by more than a factor of two, an area of an interior surface of an imaginary cylinder or parallelepiped of a minimum size to enclose the matrix;
• and
• performing at least one of a thermal operation or a thermochemical operation on the coated matrix of glass to increase a density of the at least one of individual tubes or rods by reducing said matrix of glass to a solid volume of material, representing a single structure having interstitial spaces therewithin removed, with dimensions representing at least one of a solid rod or a fiber.