Patent Publication Number: US-11384604-B2

Title: Laser induced graphene coated optical fibers

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/315,990 filed on Jan. 7, 2019 entitled Laser Induced Graphene Coated Optical Fibers, which is a 371 application of International PCT Application No. PCT/US2016/054993, filed Sep. 30, 2016 both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to optical fibers and fiber optic cables having a graphene coating, and to methods to assemble optical fibers and fiber optic cables having a graphene coating. 
     Optical fibers are sometimes used in a wellbore to facilitate fiber optic communications with downhole tools and devices and for optical sensing of the downhole environment. For example, optical fibers may be used as sensors to measure the temperature, pressure, vibration, displacement, velocity, torque, acceleration, as well as other properties of the downhole environment. Optical fibers may also be deployed in many telemetry systems and may be used to transmit signals indicative of commands to downhole tools and instruments, and to transmit signals indicative of downhole measurements as well as signals indicative of other data obtained by downhole tools to the surface. 
     Optical fibers that are disposed in wellbores are often exposed to hostile environments where the temperature can reach over 350° F., pressure can reach over 20 kpsi, and contaminates such as chemicals that erode optical fibers are abundantly present. At high temperatures, hydrogen ions, which are abundantly present in wellbores, may penetrate protective coverings of the optical fibers, and interact with optical core components of the optical fibers, which are typically made from silica. The hydrogen ions may bind to the silica to form SiOH, which has a much higher optical attenuation than silica. This adverse condition is known as “hydrogen darkening.” Hydrogen darkening significantly degrades optical properties of the optical fibers, thereby costing oil and gas companies millions of dollars to repair or replace degraded optical fibers. Further, optical fibers are sometimes deployed in a well for the life expectancy of the well, which may be several decades. In such circumstances, the material properties of deployed optical fibers should not significantly degrade while the well remains in service. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following figures are included to illustrate certain aspects of the present disclosure, and should not be viewed as exclusive embodiments. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modifications, alterations, combinations, and equivalents in form and function, without departing from the scope of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a schematic view of a production environment in which an optical fiber is deployed along an exterior surface of a production casing to facilitate fiber optic communications with downhole tools and devices and for optical sensing of the downhole environment; 
         FIG. 1B  is a wireline logging environment in which an optical fiber is deployed in a wellbore of a well to facilitate fiber optic communications with downhole tools and devices and for optical sensing of the downhole environment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic, cross-sectional view of an optical fiber; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a system for forming a graphene layer on the optical fiber of  FIG. 2  via laser-induction; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a system for forming a graphene layer on a fiber optic preform via laser-induction; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a top down view of a layer of graphene electrolyte formed on a carbon based coating; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a schematic, cross-sectional view of the optical fiber of  FIG. 2 , where electrical components are disposed on the layer of graphene of the optical fiber; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a fiber optic cable having a plurality of optical fibers. 
     
    
    
     The illustrated figures are only exemplary and are not intended to assert or imply any limitation with regard to the environment, architecture, design, or process in which different embodiments may be implemented. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments described herein, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the illustrative embodiments is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The present disclosure relates to optical fibers and fiber optic cables having a graphene coating and methods to apply graphene coating onto optical fibers and fiber optic cables. An optical fiber includes an optical core manufactured from a type of silica or plastic. In some embodiments, the optical fiber also includes a cladding that surrounds the optical core. In further embodiments, the optical fiber may be a multi core fiber, photonic crystal fiber, disordered fiber, doped fiber, or any silica or polymer based fiber that may be used as a wave guide for light propagation. The cladding is surrounded by a carbon based coating that protects the optical core from adverse environmental conditions and contaminates that may degrade or damage the optical core. In some embodiments, the carbon based coating is formed from polyimides, polyetherimides, or other polymers with aromatic and imide repeat units. 
     A layer of graphene is formed on the carbon based coating to further protect the optical fiber from adverse environmental conditions and contaminates. In some embodiments, a laser induction process is used to focus a laser (e.g., a carbon dioxide laser) at the carbon based coating. The laser photothermally converts a layer of the carbon based coating into graphene. In other embodiments, graphene may also be formed on the carbon based coating via chemical vapor deposition or liquid deposition techniques. In further embodiments, preformed graphene may be applied to the optical fiber directly. The layer of graphene acts as a barrier against hydrogen ions, which are abundantly present in a hydrocarbon rich environment, such as a wellbore. 
     The layer of graphene may also be electrically conductive. In some embodiments, the layer of graphene forms a conductive path that connects one or more power sources to downhole electronic components. In one of such embodiments, the layer of graphene is operable to transmit an alternating current or a direct current downhole to power downhole electronic components. In another one of such embodiments, the layer of graphene is surrounded by an insulating layer. In further embodiments, electrical components, such as capacitors, supercapacitors, transistors, resistors, diodes, and the like may be formed by forming graphene electrode patterns on the carbon based coating. In one of such embodiments, the optoelectronic properties of the graphene allow electronic components to be formed on the layer of graphene without additional opto-electronic interfaces between the optical core and the electronic components formed on the graphene. In one of such embodiments, the electrical components are combined to form a power source. The capacitor and supercapacitor components of the power source are charged at the surface before the power source is deployed downhole provide power to downhole tools and to recharge downhole power sources. The electrical components may also form sensors that measure the wellbore environment to provide temperature, pressure, pH, or other conditions of the wellbore environment. In further embodiments, additional layers of materials, such as boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide (MOS 2 ), silicone layered transition metal dichalcogenides, and germanene layered transition metal dichalcogenides may be disposed proximate to the layer of graphene to form the electrical components discussed herein. 
     One or more intermediary layers may be added to enhance the physical properties of the optical fiber. For example, the intermediary layers may have material properties that strengthen the optical fiber, enhance the resilience of the optical fiber, resist or protect the optical fiber from adverse conditions such as heat and pressure, shield the optical fiber from contaminates, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, one or more intermediary layers may form insulators to insulate the optical core from conductive layers and/or semi-conductive layers of the optical fiber, or to insulate different conductive layers and/or semi-conductive layers of the optical fiber from each other. In further embodiments, at least one of the one or more intermediary layers may also form a buffer layer that separates the graphene layer from the optical core, cladding, or other graphene layers. In some embodiments, multiple layers of graphene are formed around the optical core. In one of such embodiments, one or more having insulating or semiconducting properties are formed around the optical core and in between optical core and the graphene layers to isolate the optical core from the graphene layers. 
     Now turning to the figures,  FIG. 1A  illustrates a production environment  100  in which an optical fiber  120  is deployed along an exterior surface of a production casing  106 A that to facilitate fiber optic communications with downhole tools and devices and for optical sensing of the downhole environment. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1A , well  102  includes a wellbore  105 , which extends from a surface  108  of the well  102  to or through a subterranean formation  112 . The production casing  106 A extends from a surface  108  of well  102  down wellbore  105  to insulate downhole tools and strings deployed in the production casing  106 A as well as hydrocarbon resources flowing through production casing  106 A from the surrounding subterranean formation  112 , to prevent cave-ins, and/or to prevent contamination of the surrounding subterranean formation  112 . A cement sheath  132  is deposited along an annulus between the wellbore and the production casing  106 A to set the production casing  106 A and to form a barrier that seals the production casing  106 A. The optical fiber  120  is fitted with sensors  122  and extends along the production casing  106 A down the wellbore  105 . A string  117  is deployed in an annulus of the production casing  116 A. In some embodiments, the string is a production string that that provides an annulus for wellbore fluids to travel down the wellbore  105  and for hydrocarbon resources to travel up the wellbore  105 . In such embodiments, the optical fiber  120  is operable to provide semi-permanent and/or permanent monitoring of the downhole environment. In other embodiments, the string is a wireline tool string, a slickline tool string, or another type of tool string operable to deploy the sensors, tools, as well as other downhole electronic devices during the operation of the well  102 . In one of such embodiments, the optical fiber  120  is operable to detect signals indicative of measurements from the sensors, tools, and downhole electronic devices, and to transmit the detected signals along the optical fiber  120  to the surface  108 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the optical fiber  120  is directly connected to controller  184 , which includes any electronic device operable to receive and/or provide for display information indicative of signals transmitted by the optical fiber  120 . In further embodiments, signals transmitted along the optical fiber  120  are relayed by another device or telemetry system to the controller  184 . 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates a schematic view of a wireline logging environment  150 , in which the optical fiber  120  is deployed in an annulus of a production casing  106 B deployed in the wellbore  105  of the well  102  to facilitate fiber optic communications with downhole tools and devices and for optical sensing of the downhole environment. A hook  138 , cable  142 , traveling block (not shown), and hoist (not shown) are provided to lower the optical fiber  120  down the wellbore  105  or to lift the optical fiber  120  up from the wellbore  105 . In other embodiments, the optical fiber  120  is enclosed in a casing and is deployed downhole through a feedthrough system in combination with spools and slip rings. The optical fiber  120 , may also be deployed in other production or preparation environments, such as logging while drilling and measurement while drilling environments. In some embodiments, the optical fiber  120  is deployed with the tool string  117 . In other embodiments, multiple optical and/or electrical fibers are encapsulated within a fiber optic cable that is deployed with the tool string  117 . Further, although  FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate deploying optical fiber  120  in downhole environments of on shore wells, the optical fiber  120  may also be deployed in subsea environments such as in offshore wells, along subterranean formations (underground fiber optic cable lines), along the seafloor (underwater optic cable lines), or above ground (in fiber optic cable lines suspended by multiple tower or poles). 
     The optical fiber  120  is fitted with sensors  122  operable to make one or more types of downhole measurements. Further, the optical fiber  120  is also coupled to a logging tool  125 . Additional descriptions of the optical fiber  120  are described in the following paragraphs and are illustrated in at least  FIGS. 2-8 . In some embodiments, the optical fiber  120  may be utilized to perform distributed sensing of various conditions of wellbore  105  and to transmit measurements of the conditions to the controller  184 . In further embodiments, one or more electrical components formed on the optical fiber are operable to measure the conditions of the wellbore  105 . Measurements made by the sensors  122 , the optical fiber, and electrical components formed on the optical fiber  120  may be transmitted via an optical core (not shown) of the optical fiber  120  to the controller  184 . Similarly, communications with the sensors  122  and the logging tool  125  are transmitted via the optical core of the optical fiber  120  to the controller  184 . 
     The optical fiber  120  also includes a carbon based coating and a layer of graphene. In some embodiments, electrical components, such as capacitors, supercapacitors, transistors, diodes, resistors and the like are formed on the carbon based coating. In further embodiments, the electrical components are formed on one or more intermediary layers of materials that are disposed proximate to the graphene layer. In some embodiments, the electrical components form a power source to provide power to the sensors  122  and the downhole logging tool  125 . In further embodiments, the electrical components form sensors operable to measure different wellbore conditions proximate to the electrical components. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic, cross-sectional view of an optical fiber  200 . The optical fiber  200  includes an optical core  202  that extends along a longitudinal axis  203  from a first end of optical fiber  200  to a second end of the optical fiber  200 . The optical core  202  may be formed from a type of silica or plastic and is surrounded by a cladding  204 , which is usually formed from a silica or plastic with lower index of refraction than the core to facilitate transmission of photons from the first end of the optical fiber  200  to the second end of the optical fiber  200 . The carbon based coating  206  and the intermediary layer  207  wrap around the optical core  202  and the cladding  204 . This carbon based coating protects the optical core and the cladding from various adverse conditions and contaminants discussed herein. Although the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2  contains one intermediary layer  207 , other embodiments may include no intermediary layer or multiple intermediary layers. In some embodiments graphene is formed on the carbon based polymer via one or more laser induction processes. Additional descriptions of different laser induction processes are described in the following paragraphs and are illustrated in at least  FIGS. 3-8 . 
     The graphene layer inhibits hydrogen ions as well as other contaminating atoms or molecules from penetrating the carbon based coating  206 , thereby protecting the optical core  202  from hydrogen darkening. In some embodiments, the graphene layer forms a conductive path to provide power to downhole electronic components such as the sensors  122  and the downhole logging tool  125 . Further, electronic components are formed and/or disposed on the graphene layer. In one of such embodiments, the intermediary layer  207  forms an insulating layer that shields the electronic components on the graphene layer from other components of the optical fiber  200 . In further embodiments, the intermediary layer  207  enhances the material properties of the optical fiber  200 . In some embodiments, a jacket (not shown) is added around the carbon based coating to further insulate the optical core  202 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a system  300  for forming a graphene layer on the optical fiber  200  of  FIG. 2  via laser-induction. The optical fiber  200  is wound from an optical fiber feed reel  302  to the optical fiber uptake reel  303 . As the optical fiber  200  travels from the optical fiber feed reel  302  to the optical fiber uptake reel  303 , laser beams are emitted from lasers  304 A-C onto the carbon based coating of the optical fiber  200 . In some embodiments, the laser beams may photothermally and/or photochemically convert a surface of the carbon based coating into graphene. In some embodiments, the laser beams convert carbon atoms of the carbon based coating from having an sp 3  hybridization to an sp 2  hybridization. In one of such embodiments, a CO 2  laser induces lattice vibrations at localized sections of the carbon based coating. The lattice vibrations increase the temperature at the localized sections of the carbon based coating. The temperature increase breaks C—O, C═O and N—C bonds of the localized sections of the carbon based coating. This process releases oxygen and nitrogen atoms and ions as gaseous compounds while the remaining carbon atoms and ions form a graphitic structure, which includes at least one layer of graphene. In some embodiments, the layer of graphene may be treated with manganese dioxide, ferric oxyhydroxide, polyaniline, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) in H 2 SO 4 , or other similarly charged chemical to form a microsupercapacitor on the layer of graphene. In additional embodiments, the layer of graphene may be combined with other materials, such as MoS 2 , hexagonal boron nitride, layered transition metal dichalcogenides to form field effect transistors, optical modulators, capacitors, microsupercapacitors, as well as other electronic components discussed herein. In further embodiments, pre-formed microsupercapacitors and other electronic components may be disposed on the layer of graphene. 
     In some embodiments, the lasers  304 A-C are operable to rotate around the optical fiber  200  while the optical fiber  200  is drawn from the fiber feed reel  302  to the optical uptake reel  303  to form the layer of graphene and/or to form electronic components on the layer of graphene. In further embodiments, the optical fiber  200  may be rotated while the optical fiber  200  is drawn from the fiber feed reel  302  to the optical uptake reel  303  to form the graphene or to form electrical components on the layer of graphene. In some embodiments, the foregoing process described in the previous paragraphs and illustrated in  FIG. 3  is repeated to form multiple layers of graphene. In one of such embodiments, after a first layer of graphene is formed by the lasers  304 A-C, an additional layer of carbon based coating is applied to the optical fiber  200 . The optical fiber  200  containing the additional layer is then wound around the fiber feed reel  302  and is drawn from the fiber feed reel  302  to the optical uptake reel  303 . As the optical fiber  200  travels from the optical fiber feed reel  302  to the optical fiber uptake reel  303 , laser beams are emitted from the lasers  304 A-C onto the second layer of carbon based coating to photothermally convert a surface of the second layer of carbon based coating into a second layer of graphene. In some embodiments, additional electrical components are formed on the second layer of graphene. Additional descriptions of processes for forming electrical components on graphene are provided herein. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a system  400  for forming a graphene layer on a fiber optic preform via laser-induction. A preform feed  402  may hold the preform  404 . In some embodiments, the preform  404  is formed from silica or plastic and includes materials that form the optical core and cladding of an optical fiber. The preform  404  may be drawn through a furnace  406 , which melts the preform  404  to form an optical fiber  407 . A sensor, such as a laser micrometer  408  may measure the diameter of the optical fiber  407  and adjust the draw rate to ensure the optical fiber  407  has a desired uniform thickness. The optical fiber  407  may be pulled through a first coating cup  410  containing material for a carbon based coating. Once a coating of carbon based polymer is applied to the optical fiber  407 , the optical fiber  407  passes through a first curing oven  412  to cure the carbon based coating. As the optical fiber  407  passes by a laser system  414 , a laser beam generated by the laser system  414  focuses on the optical fiber  407  to photothermally convert a surface of the carbon based coating into a layer of graphene. The laser power may be adjusted to optimize the layer thickness, sheet resistance, domain size, atomic purity, and structural purity of the graphene element. The optical fiber  414 , now with a grapheme element, may pass through a second coating cup  416  containing material for an additional coating, such as a buffer coating or a jacket. Once an additional layer of coating is applied, the optical fiber  407  passes through a second curing oven  418  to cure the additional coating. The optical fiber  407  is then retrieved from tractor  420 . 
     The system illustrated in  FIG. 4  produces an optical fiber having an optical core, a cladding, a carbon based coating having a layer of graphene, and an additional layer of coating. In some embodiments, the second coating cup  416  and the second curing oven  418  are not included in the system  400 . In such embodiments, the optical fiber would include an optical core, a cladding, and a carbon based coating having a layer of graphene. In other embodiments, multiple intermediary layers of coatings are applied before or after a graphene layer is formed on the carbon based coating. In one of such embodiments, one or more intermediary layers may be layered on the fiber through chemical vapor deposition. In another one of such embodiments, one or more intermediary layers may be layered on the fiber through liquid deposition. In a further embodiment, one or more intermediary layers may be layered on the fiber through evaporation sputtering. In a further embodiment, one or more intermediary layers may be layered on the fiber through electrodeposition. In a further one of such embodiments, one or more intermediary layers may be layered on the fiber through electroplating. In further embodiments, multiple layers of graphene are applied to multiple layers carbon based coating. In further embodiments, microfabrication techniques such as, but not limited to dissolvable photoresist, wet chemical etching, and reactive ion etching may be performed to pattern the layer of graphene or one or more intermediary layers and to form electronic devices, such as capacitors, supercapacitors, transistors, resistors, diodes, and the like. In further embodiments, one or more pre-formed layers of graphene may be applied to the optical fiber during or after the foregoing process. In one of such embodiments, the one or more pre-formed layers of graphene are formed using one of the processes described herein. Additional techniques used to form electronic devices on the optical fiber are provided in further detail in the paragraphs below. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a top down view of a layer of graphene electrolyte  502  formed on a carbon based coating  500 . The lasers  304 A- 304 C may form graphene electrode patterns on the carbon based coating of the optical fiber  200 . Positive and negative charges are arranged on different graphene electrodes through exposure to electrolytes (aqueous or solid state) or to exposure to different voltages. A capacitor may then be formed by separating the charged electrodes. In other embodiments, the lasers  304 A- 304 C form graphene arrays and electrodes are disposed on the graphene arrays to form capacitors. Through multiple layers of coatings, multiple layers of capacitors or capacitors orthogonal to the fiber surface may be formed. In some embodiments, the lasers  304 A-C are operable to rotate around the optical fiber  200  while the optical fiber  200  is drawn from the fiber feed reel  302  to the optical uptake reel  303  to form patterns of electrolytes on the layer of graphene. In further embodiments, the optical fiber  200  may be rotated while the optical fiber  200  is drawn from the fiber feed reel  302  to the optical uptake reel  303  to form the graphene or to form the patterns of electrolytes on the layer of graphene. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a schematic, cross-sectional view of the optical fiber  200  of  FIG. 2 , where electrical components are disposed on the layer of graphene of the optical fiber. As described in  FIG. 5 , a laser induction process may be used to form different graphene arrays and electrode patterns that are be used to form capacitors  208 . In some embodiments, the capacitors  208  form a power source to provide power to sensors and to downhole tools. 
     Further, transistors  210 , diodes (not shown), resistors (not shown), as well as other electronics components may also be formed on the carbon based coating of the optical fiber via laser induction or some other fabrication process. In some embodiments, the electronic components form a sensor, such as, but not limited to, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a resistivity sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, an acoustic sensor, a sensor operable to sense radioactive flux, a sensor operable to sense water content, or a pH sensor to measure the environment of the wellbore proximate to the electronic components. In some embodiments, additional layers of materials, such as boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide (MOS 2 ), silicone layered transition metal dichalcogenides, and germanene layered transition metal dichalcogenides may be disposed on the intermediary layer  207  to the electrical components discussed herein. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a fiber optic cable  700  having a plurality of optical fibers  702 . Each of the optical fibers  702  includes a fiber core  703 , a cladding  704 , and a carbon based coating  706 . Each of the carbon based coatings  706  includes a graphene layer (not shown). In some embodiments, the graphene layers are formed on the carbon based coatings  706  via a laser induction process described herein. In other embodiments, the graphene layers are formed on the carbon based coatings  706  via chemical vapor deposition. In further embodiments, the graphene layers are formed on the carbon based coatings  706  via liquid deposition. 
     The optical fibers  702  are protected by an intermediary layer  705  and another carbon based coating  706 . In some embodiments, the intermediary layer  705  enhances the material properties of fiber optic cable  700 . In one of such embodiments, the intermediary layer  705  increases the resilience of the fiber optic cable. In other embodiments, the intermediary layer  705  prevents contaminates such as hydrogen atoms from reaching the optical fibers  702 . 
     In some embodiments, the assembled stack of carbon based coatings may include more than two carbon based coatings. In one of such embodiments, a first surface and a second surface of a third carbon based coating are photothermally converted into a third layer and a fourth layer of graphene, respectively, where the first surface of the third carbon based coating is substantially opposite the second surface of the third carbon based coating. The third carbon based coating is inserted in between the first intermediary layer and the second carbon based polymer. Further, a second intermediary layer is inserted in between the second and third carbon based coatings to form a buffer layer between the two carbon based coatings. The first, second, and third carbon based coatings and the first and second intermediary layers are then assembled into a stack and assembled stack is applied to the optical core along the longitudinal axis of the optical core. Additional carbon based coatings and intermediary layers may be similarly added. 
     In other embodiments, carbon based coatings are applied to the optical core one layer at a time. In such embodiments, a graphene layer is formed on a surface of the most recently applied carbon based coating before a new layer of carbon based coating is applied to the optical core. In one of such embodiments, an intermediary layer is applied as a buffer between adjacent layers of graphene. 
     The above-disclosed embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the disclosure, but the disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the forms disclosed. Many insubstantial modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. For instance, although the flowcharts depict a serial process, some of the steps/processes may be performed in parallel or out of sequence, or combined into a single step/process. The scope of the claims is intended to broadly cover the disclosed embodiments and any such modification. Further, the following clauses represent additional embodiments of the disclosure and should be considered within the scope of the disclosure: 
     Clause 1, an optical fiber having a graphene coating, comprising an optical core extending along a longitudinal axis; a carbon based coating covering the optical core along the longitudinal axis; and a layer of graphene formed on a first surface of the carbon based coating, wherein the layer of graphene is electrically conductive, and wherein the layer of graphene is formed from a laser induction process comprising focusing a laser beam at the carbon based coating to photothermally convert the first surface of the carbon based coating into the layer of graphene. 
     Clause 2, the optical fiber of clause 1, further including a plurality of electrical components formed on the layer of graphene. 
     Clause 3, the optical fiber of clauses 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of electrical components form a power source to provide power to a downhole tool. 
     Clause 4, the optical fiber of any combination of claims  1 - 3 , wherein the plurality of electrical components form sensor components to provide measurements of a downhole environment. 
     Clause 5, the optical fiber of any combination of clauses 1-4, wherein optical fiber of claim  4 , wherein the sensor components are operable to measure at least one of a pressure, a temperature, a resistivity, an electromagnetic field strength and direction, an acoustic field strength, a radioactive flux, water content, and a pH of the downhole environment. 
     Clause 6, the optical fiber of any combination of clauses 1-5, further comprising an intermediary layer having material properties that strengthen the optical fiber. 
     Clause 7, the optical fiber of any combination of clauses 1-6, wherein the intermediary layer has insulating or semiconducting properties that isolate the optical core from one or more electrically conductive layers. 
     Clause 8, the optical fiber of any combination of the clauses 1-7, wherein the carbon based coating is formed from polyimides. 
     Clause 9, the optical fiber of any combination of clauses 1-8, wherein the layer of graphene inhibits hydrogen ions from penetrating the carbon based coating. 
     Clause 10, the optical fiber of any combination of clauses 1-9, wherein the layer of graphene is electrically conductive. 
     Clause 11, a method to apply a graphene coating onto an optical fiber, the method including applying a first carbon based coating to an optical core of the optical fiber along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber; focusing a laser beam at a first carbon based coating of the optical fiber; and photothermally converting a first surface of the first carbon based coating into a first layer of graphene. 
     Clause 12, the method of clause 11, wherein photothermally converting the first surface of the carbon based coating into the first layer of graphene comprises converting carbon atoms of the carbon based coating from having an sp3 hybridization to an sp2 hybridization. 
     Clause 13, the method of clauses 11 or 12, further including applying a second carbon based coating to the optical core along the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber, and photothermally converting a first surface of a second carbon based coating into a second layer of graphene, wherein the second layer of graphene is positioned in between an optical core component of the optical fiber and the first layer of graphene. 
     Clause 14, the method of any combination of clauses 11-13, further comprising forming a plurality of electrical components on the first layer of graphene. 
     Clause 15, the method of any combination of clauses 11-14, further including: photothermally converting the first surface of the first carbon based coating into a graphene electrode pattern; and forming at least one of a positive electrode and at least one of a negative electrode from the graphene electrode pattern, wherein the plurality of electrical components are formed from the at least one positive and the at least one negative graphene electrode. 
     Clause 16, the method of any combination of clauses 11-15, further comprising forming a power source from the plurality of electrical components, wherein the power source supplies power to a downhole tool. 
     Clause 17, the method of any combination of clauses 11-16, further including forming a sensor component from the plurality of electrical components, wherein the sensor component provides measurements of a downhole environment. 
     Clause 18, a fiber optic cable having a graphene coating, the fiber optic cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers extending along a longitudinal axis; a carbon based coating encapsulating the plurality of optical fibers along the longitudinal axis; at least one layer of material disposed on a first surface of the layer of graphene. 
     Clause 19, the fiber optic cable of clause 18, further comprising a plurality of electrical components formed from the layer of graphene and a first layer of the at least one layer of the material. 
     Clause 20, the fiber optic cable of clauses 18 or 19, wherein the layer of graphene is disposed on the first surface of the carbon based coating via a laser induction process comprising focusing a laser beam at the carbon based coating to photothermally convert carbon atoms of the carbon based coating from having an sp 3  hybridization to an sp 2  hybridization. 
     Unless otherwise specified, any use of any form of the terms “connect,” “engage,” “couple,” “attach,” or any other term describing an interaction between elements in the foregoing disclosure is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the elements and may also include indirect interaction between the elements described. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Unless otherwise indicated, as used throughout this document, “or” does not require mutual exclusivity. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification and/or the claims, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. In addition, the steps and components described in the above embodiments and figures are merely illustrative and do not imply that any particular step or component is a requirement of a claimed embodiment. 
     It should be apparent from the foregoing that embodiments of an invention having significant advantages have been provided. While the embodiments are shown in only a few forms, the embodiments are not limited but are susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.