On-substrate cleaving of sol-gel waveguide

A method for on-substrate cleaving a sol-gel waveguide for producing a clean waveguide-coupling endface, comprising:

• producing a substrate a photosensitive sol-gel buffer layer defining first and second adjacent buffer layer portions;
• masking the first buffer layer portion;
• exposing the second buffer layer portion to UV light to make said second buffer layer portion resistant to a given solvent;
• producing a photosensitive sol-gel guide layer on the photosensitive sol-gel buffer layer after exposure of the second buffer layer portion to UV light;
• masking the photosensitive sol-gel guide layer with a mask having an elongated opening presenting the general configuration of the waveguide, said elongated opening crossing an intersection between the first and second buffer layer portions;
• exposing the masked photosensitive sol-gel guide layer to UV light to form said waveguide therein, exposure to UV light rendering said waveguide resistant to said given solvent;
• removing the unexposed areas of the photosensitive sol-gel buffer layer and the photosensitive sol-gel guide layer by soaking in said given solvent the substrate and the UV exposed sol-gel buffer and guide layers to dissolve the first buffer layer portion and the photosensitive sol-gel guide layer around the waveguide whereby said waveguide has a first section adhered to the second buffer layer portion and a second section spaced apart from the substrate due to dissolution of the first buffer layer portion;
• and
• cleaving the waveguide at said intersection to form said clean waveguide-coupling endface.