Moments in Materials Seminar, Presented by Victoria Quirós-Cordero, Delor/Schuck Group
A versatile materials class for solution-processed optics and photonics based on metal oxide hydrates and polyalcohols
Presented By: Victoria Quirós-Cordero
Abstract:
The ability to propagate light within a structure comprising a spatial distribution of the refractive index prompted the telecommunications revolution of the 20th century. More recently, progress with exploiting the flow of light has led to a broad range of light- and heat-management tools, as well as novel quantum devices. Nonetheless, our capacity to manipulate photons is still in its infancy, especially when compared with how well we can operate on electronic charge carriers. The further advancement of optics and photonics has a strong need for material systems that (i) enable control of the refractive index, (ii) have minimal optical loss, and (iii) can be readily fabricated and/or patterned into desired structures at low cost and/or large area. This talk discusses a new versatile class of optical materials based on molecular hybrids of metal oxide hydrates and commodity polymers, such as poly(vinyl alcohol), that exhibit these key characteristics. These materials form thin films with homogeneous and reproducible thicknesses and very low optical loss in the visible and NIR spectral ranges when processed from solution at ambient conditions. Additionally, the films’ refractive index can be tuned between ≈1.50–2.10 by adjusting the material’s composition and, most notably, via post-deposition treatments (e.g., thermal annealing, laser writing, UV curing), enabling refractive index patterning. In this talk, I will describe the processing and characterization of molecular hybrid films and demonstrate the straightforward fabrication of useful architectures like optical gratings, distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs), and optical microcavities sustaining strong light-matter coupling employing this materials class. Generally, these molecular hybrids open future opportunities for the expedited production of optics, photonics, quantum devices, catalysis, and beyond.