Systems and methods for performing photoreactions using light-diffusing optical fiber

A method of performing a photoreaction in a photoreactive material using actinic light, comprising:

• containing the photoreactive material in an interior of a container, the container having an outer surface and being substantially transparent to the actinic light;
• disposing a light-diffusing optical fiber adjacent the outer surface of the container, the light-diffusing optical fiber having a glass core, a cladding surrounding the glass core, and an outer surface, the optical fiber further comprising a plurality of nano-sized structures situated within the glass core or at a core-cladding boundary, the nano-sized structures being configured to scatter the actinic light;
• disposing a reflective member adjacent the light-diffusing optical fiber;
• coupling the actinic light into the light-diffusing optical fiber to form guided actinic light;
• and
• scattering the guided actinic light out of the outer surface of light-diffusing optical fiber by operation of the nano-sized structures to form scattered actinic light that travels through the transparent container and throughout the photoreactive material, thereby causing the photoreaction throughout the photoreactive material, wherein a portion of the scattered actinic light is directed by the reflective member toward the photoreactive material.