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Polymers
Special Issues
Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications
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Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 September 2020) | Viewed by 46281

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Sergi Gallego Rico

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto Universitario de Física Aplicada a las Ciencias y las Tecnologías, Universidad de Alicante, Apartado 99, 03080 Alicante, Spain
Interests: photopolymers; holography; biopolymers; h-pdlc; liquid crystal polymers; light sensitive materials; nanocomposites; Spatial light modulators; holographic memories; Diffractive optical elements; holographic optical elements
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yasuo Tomita

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering Science, University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo, Japan
Interests: photonic nanocomposite materials; nonlinear optics, neutron optics; information photonics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Holographic photopolymerization is a simple and low-price method to fabricate 1D, 2D, and 3D photonic structures. Their periodicity can be modified depending on the fabrication way, which opens a wide window of potential applications including reflecting flat-panel displays, optical interconnects, holographic optical elements, diffractive lenses, optical data storage, solar concentrators, wearable/see-through displays, sensors, etc. Depending on the particular application, the chemical composition of the photopolymer should be optimized. During the last two decades, different photopolymerizable nanocompounds have been introduced and developed in order to modify the polymer properties. In this sense, inorganic and organic nanoparticles have been introduced to increase the refractive index modulation and/or to reduce shrinkage. In particular, liquid crystal polymer composites add to the category of active photopolymer materials with the switchable option under an appropriate electric field.

This Special Issue focuses on polymeric and polymer nanocomposite materials for photonic applications and will aim at demonstrating researchers’ ability to design, synthesize, and manufacture photopolymer-based materials that address the challenges posed by classical and emerging holographic applications.

Prof. Sergi Gallego Rico
Prof. Yasuo Tomita
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Self-processing photopolymers
  • Nanocomposite polymer materials
  • Photorefractive polymers
  • HPDLC and POLICRYPS
  • Holographic optical elements
  • Diffractive optical elements
  • Holographic interferometry
  • Photopolymers for holographic data storage
  • Polymers for holographic lithography
  • Theoretical modeling of photosensitive polymers

Published Papers (16 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 169 KiB  
Editorial
Editorial for the Special Issue “Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications”
by Sergi Gallego and Yasuo Tomita
Polymers 2020, 12(12), 3036; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12123036 - 18 Dec 2020
Viewed by 1133
Abstract
Polymer nanocomposites are designed and engineered on a nanometer scale with versatile applications including optics and photonics [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

17 pages, 5606 KiB  
Article
Numerical Technique for Study of Noise Grating Dynamics in Holographic Photopolymers
by Robert R. McLeod
Polymers 2020, 12(11), 2744; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12112744 - 19 Nov 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1725
Abstract
Although the angular distribution of noise gratings in holographic photopolymer is understood to arise from Bragg matching, the details of scatter strength and dynamics are not fully understood. This confounds development of materials and recording techniques that minimize haze. Here, the kinetics are [...] Read more.
Although the angular distribution of noise gratings in holographic photopolymer is understood to arise from Bragg matching, the details of scatter strength and dynamics are not fully understood. This confounds development of materials and recording techniques that minimize haze. Here, the kinetics are studied using a multi-physics numerical approach coupling diffraction of light from the dynamic material including scatter centers, reactions of chemical species initiated by this light, diffusion and swelling of these constituents, and the formation of the refractive index from the resulting composition. The approach is validated in the case of two-beam transmission holography by comparison to traditional harmonic series and rigorous coupled-mode approaches. Two beam holography in the presence of scatter is then used to study haze development. This reveals that haze due to weak noise gratings grows significantly above initial scatter only in reaction-limited materials, consistent with proposed Bragg-matched amplification mechanisms. Amplified haze is found to be proportional to initial scatter, quantifying the impact of clean sample fabrication. Conversely, haze is found to grow super-linearly with sample thickness, illustrating the significant challenge for applications requiring low haze in large thickness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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14 pages, 17608 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Sub-Micron Polymer Waveguides through Two-Photon Polymerization in Polydimethylsiloxane
by Giulia Panusa, Ye Pu, Jieping Wang, Christophe Moser and Demetri Psaltis
Polymers 2020, 12(11), 2485; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12112485 - 26 Oct 2020
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3922
Abstract
Flexible ultra-compact low-loss optical waveguides play a vital role in the development of soft photonics. The search for suitable materials and innovative fabrication techniques to achieve low loss long polymer optical waveguides and interconnects has proven to be challenging. In this paper, we [...] Read more.
Flexible ultra-compact low-loss optical waveguides play a vital role in the development of soft photonics. The search for suitable materials and innovative fabrication techniques to achieve low loss long polymer optical waveguides and interconnects has proven to be challenging. In this paper, we demonstrate the fabrication of submicron optical waveguides in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using divinylbenzene (DVB) as the photopolymerizable monomer through two-photon polymerization (2PP). We show that the commercial oxime ester photoinitiator Irgacure OXE02 is suitable for triggering the DVB photopolymerization, resulting in a stable and controllable fabrication process for the fabrication of defect-free, 5-cm long waveguides. We further explore a multi-track fabrication strategy to enlarge the waveguide core size up to ~3 μm for better light confinement and reduced cross-talk. In these waveguides, we measured a refractive index contrast on the order of 0.005 and a transmission loss of 0.1 dB/cm at 710 nm wavelength. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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15 pages, 3504 KiB  
Article
Magnetically Tunable Liquid Crystal-Based Optical Diffraction Gratings
by Dejan Bošnjaković, Nerea Sebastián and Irena Drevenšek-Olenik
Polymers 2020, 12(10), 2355; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12102355 - 14 Oct 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2057
Abstract
We present a theoretical analysis of optical diffractive properties of magnetically tunable optical transmission gratings composed of periodically assembled layers of a polymer and a ferromagnetic liquid crystal (LC). The orientational structure of the LC layers as a function of an applied magnetic [...] Read more.
We present a theoretical analysis of optical diffractive properties of magnetically tunable optical transmission gratings composed of periodically assembled layers of a polymer and a ferromagnetic liquid crystal (LC). The orientational structure of the LC layers as a function of an applied magnetic field is calculated by minimization of the Landau-de Gennes free energy for ferromagnetic LCs, which is performed numerically and also analytically by using the one-constant approximation and the approximations of the high and the low magnetic fields. Optical diffractive properties of the associated diffraction structure are calculated numerically in the framework of rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA). The presented methodology provides a basis for designing new types of diffractive optical element based on ferromagnetic LCs and simulating their operation governed by the in-plane magnetic field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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21 pages, 4537 KiB  
Article
Steps Toward the Band Gap Identification in Polystyrene Based Solid Polymer Nanocomposites Integrated with Tin Titanate Nanoparticles
by Ahang M. Hussein, Elham M. A. Dannoun, Shujahadeen B. Aziz, Mohamad A. Brza, Rebar T. Abdulwahid, Sarkawt A. Hussen, Sarkawt Rostam, Dalia M. T. Mustafa and Dana S. Muhammad
Polymers 2020, 12(10), 2320; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12102320 - 10 Oct 2020
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 3916
Abstract
In the current study, the film fabrication of polystyrene (PS) based polymer nanocomposites (NCs) with tuned refractive index and absorption edge was carried out using the solution cast method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) light characterization techniques were performed. The structural and [...] Read more.
In the current study, the film fabrication of polystyrene (PS) based polymer nanocomposites (NCs) with tuned refractive index and absorption edge was carried out using the solution cast method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) light characterization techniques were performed. The structural and optical properties of the prepared films were specified. The hump of PS decreased significantly when SnTiO3 nanoparticles (NPs) were introduced. Sharp and high intense peaks of SnTiO3 NPs at a high filler ratio were observed. The crystalline size was determined for SnTiO3 NPs from the sharp crystalline peaks using Debye-Scherrer’s equation and was found to be 25.179 nm, which is close enough to that described by the supplier. Several optical parameters, such as absorption coefficient (α), refractive index (n), and optical dielectric properties, were investigated. The absorption spectra were tuned with increasing SnTiO3NPs. Upon the addition of the NPs to the PS host polymer, the absorption edge undergoes shifting to lesser photon energy sides. The optical dielectric constant (ε′) was correlated to the refractive index. The study of the optical band gap was conducted in detail using both Tauc’s model and the optical dielectric loss (ε″) parameter. The results showed that the ε″ parameter is noteworthy to be measured in the optical band gap study of materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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10 pages, 4201 KiB  
Article
Au Nanoparticles-Doped Polymer All-Optical Switches Based on Photothermal Effects
by Yue Cao, Daming Zhang, Yue Yang, Baizhu Lin, Jiawen Lv, Fei Wang, Xianwang Yang and Yunji Yi
Polymers 2020, 12(9), 1960; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12091960 - 29 Aug 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2118
Abstract
This article demonstrated the Au nanoparticles-doped polymer all-optical switches based on photothermal effects. The Au nanoparticles have a strong photothermal effect, which would generate the inhomogeneous thermal field distributions in the waveguide under the laser irradiation. Meanwhile, the polymer materials have the characteristics [...] Read more.
This article demonstrated the Au nanoparticles-doped polymer all-optical switches based on photothermal effects. The Au nanoparticles have a strong photothermal effect, which would generate the inhomogeneous thermal field distributions in the waveguide under the laser irradiation. Meanwhile, the polymer materials have the characteristics of good compatibility with photothermal materials, low cost, high thermo-optical coefficient and flexibility. Therefore, the Au nanoparticles-doped polymer material can be applied in optically controlled optical switches with low power consumption, small device dimension and high integration. Moreover, the end-pumping method has a higher optical excitation efficiency, which can further reduce the power consumption of the device. Two kinds of all-optical switching devices have been designed including a base mode switch and a first-order mode switch. For the base mode switch, the power consumption and the rise/fall time were 2.05 mW and 17.3/106.9 μs, respectively at the wavelength of 650 nm. For the first-order mode switch, the power consumption and the rise/fall time were 0.5 mW and 10.2/74.9 μs, respectively at the wavelength of 532 nm. This all-optical switching device has the potential applications in all-optical networks, flexibility device and wearable technology fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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7 pages, 1900 KiB  
Article
Diffraction and Polarization Properties of Electrically–Tunable Nematic Liquid Crystal Grating
by Shuan-Yu Huang, Bing-Yau Huang, Chi-Chung Kang and Chie-Tong Kuo
Polymers 2020, 12(9), 1929; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12091929 - 26 Aug 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2671
Abstract
This work demonstrates an electrically-tunable nematic liquid crystal (NLC) diffraction grating with a periodic electrode structure, and discusses the polarization properties of its diffraction. The efficiency of the first-order diffraction can be gradually controlled by applying external electric fields cross the NLC, and [...] Read more.
This work demonstrates an electrically-tunable nematic liquid crystal (NLC) diffraction grating with a periodic electrode structure, and discusses the polarization properties of its diffraction. The efficiency of the first-order diffraction can be gradually controlled by applying external electric fields cross the NLC, and the maximum diffraction efficiency of the first-order diffraction that can be obtained is around 12.5% under the applied voltage of 5.0 V. In addition to the applied electric field, the efficiency of the first-order diffraction can also vary by changing the polarized state of the incident beam. Antisymmetric polarization states with symmetrical intensities in the diffractions corresponding to the +1 and −1 order diffraction signals are also demonstrated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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12 pages, 4668 KiB  
Article
Optical Trajectory Manipulations Using the Self-Written Waveguide Technique
by Ra’ed Malallah, Derek Cassidy, Min Wan, Inbarasan Muniraj, John J. Healy and John T. Sheridan
Polymers 2020, 12(7), 1438; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12071438 - 27 Jun 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2548
Abstract
This study is novel for several reasons: We used a thin drop cast layer of dry photosensitive materials to study the behaviors of wet photopolymer media using microscopic distances during the Self-Written Waveguide (SWW) process; then, we examined the self-trajectories formed inside the [...] Read more.
This study is novel for several reasons: We used a thin drop cast layer of dry photosensitive materials to study the behaviors of wet photopolymer media using microscopic distances during the Self-Written Waveguide (SWW) process; then, we examined the self-trajectories formed inside the solid material. The results provide a framework for theoretical and experimental examinations by handling the effects of manipulating the alignment of fibers. The other main advantage of these techniques is their lightweight, easy to process, highly flexible, and ultimately low-cost nature. First, the SWW process in wet photopolymer media (liquid solutions) was examined under three cases: single-, counter-, and co-fiber exposure. Then, the SWWs formed inside the solid material were examined along with the effects of manipulating the alignment of the fibers. In all cases, high precision measurements were used to position the fiber optic cables (FOCs) before exposure using a microscope. The self-writing process was indirectly monitored by observing (imaging) the light emerging from the side of the material sample during SWW formation. In this way, we examined the optical waveguide trajectories formed in Acrylamide/Polyvinyl Alcohol (AA/PVA), a photopolymer material (sensitized at 532 nm). First, the transmission of light by this material is characterized. Then, the bending and merging of the waveguides that occur are investigated. The predictions of our model are shown to qualitatively agree with the observed trajectories. The largest index changes taking place at any time during exposure, i.e., during SWW formation, are shown to take place at the positions where the largest exposure light intensity is present. Typically, such maxima exist close to the input face. The first maximum is referred to as the location of the Primary Eye. Other local maxima also appear further along the SWW and are referred to as Secondary Eyes, i.e., eyes deeper within the material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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14 pages, 2228 KiB  
Article
Graphene Oxide Composite for Selective Recognition, Capturing, Photothermal Killing of Bacteria over Mammalian Cells
by Gang Ma, Junjie Qi, Qifan Cui, Xueying Bao, Dong Gao and Chengfen Xing
Polymers 2020, 12(5), 1116; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12051116 - 13 May 2020
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3929
Abstract
The multifunctional photothermal therapy (PTT) platform with the ability to selectively kill bacteria over mammalian cells has received widespread attention recently. Herein, we prepared graphene oxide-amino(polyethyleneglycol) (GO-PEG-NH2) while using the hydrophobic interaction between heptadecyl end groups of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethyleneglycol)] (DSPE-PEG-NH2) [...] Read more.
The multifunctional photothermal therapy (PTT) platform with the ability to selectively kill bacteria over mammalian cells has received widespread attention recently. Herein, we prepared graphene oxide-amino(polyethyleneglycol) (GO-PEG-NH2) while using the hydrophobic interaction between heptadecyl end groups of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethyleneglycol)] (DSPE-PEG-NH2) and graphene oxide (GO). Based on GO-PEG-NH2, the versatile PTT system was constructed with simultaneous selective recognition, capturing, and photothermal killing of bacteria. When the cells undergo bacterial infection, owing to the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains and positively charged amino groups, GO-PEG-NH2 can specifically recognize and capture bacteria in the presence of cells. Meanwhile, the stable photothermal performance of GO-PEG-NH2 enables the captured bacteria to be efficiently photothermally ablated upon the irradiation of 808 nm laser. Besides, the GO-PEG-NH2 is highly stable in various biological media and it exhibits low cytotoxicity, suggesting that it holds great promise for biological applications. This work provides new insight into graphene-based materials as a PTT agent for the development of new therapeutic platforms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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17 pages, 3749 KiB  
Article
Aberration-Based Quality Metrics in Holographic Lenses
by Tomás Lloret, Víctor Navarro-Fuster, Manuel G. Ramírez, Marta Morales-Vidal, Augusto Beléndez and Inmaculada Pascual
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 993; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12040993 - 24 Apr 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2984
Abstract
Aberrations and the image quality of holographic lenses were evaluated by a Hartmann–Shack (HS) wavefront sensor. Two lenses, one recorded with a symmetrical configuration and the other with an asymmetrical one, were stored in a photopolymer called Biophotopol. Each was reconstructed with two [...] Read more.
Aberrations and the image quality of holographic lenses were evaluated by a Hartmann–Shack (HS) wavefront sensor. Two lenses, one recorded with a symmetrical configuration and the other with an asymmetrical one, were stored in a photopolymer called Biophotopol. Each was reconstructed with two different wavelengths, 473 nm and 633 nm. Different metrics were applied to determine and quantify the aberration of the lenses (Zernike coefficients, Seidel coefficients, Marechal tolerances, root-mean-square (RMS), peak to valley, critical fraction of the pupil), and the quality of the image they provided (Strehl ratio, entropy, cutoff frequency, modulation transfer function (MTF), and area under the MTF). Good agreement between the metrics related to optical quality was obtained. The negative asymmetric holographic lenses had less aberration than the positive symmetric ones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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12 pages, 5033 KiB  
Article
Simultaneous Enhancement of Photocatalytic Bactericidal Activity and Strength Properties of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Plastic Via a Facile Preparation with Silane/TiO2
by Kunlanan Kiatkittipong, Jun Wei Lim, Chin Kui Cheng, Worapon Kiatkittipong and Suttichai Assabumrungrat
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 917; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12040917 - 16 Apr 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2825
Abstract
This work aims to enhance the photocatalytic antibacterial performance of plastics according to the JIS Z 2801:2010 standard, and to determine their mechanical properties by studying: (i) the influence of calcination on titanium dioxide (TiO2); (ii) modification with different TiO2 [...] Read more.
This work aims to enhance the photocatalytic antibacterial performance of plastics according to the JIS Z 2801:2010 standard, and to determine their mechanical properties by studying: (i) the influence of calcination on titanium dioxide (TiO2); (ii) modification with different TiO2 concentrations, and; (iii) the effect of silane as a coupling agent. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene plastics (ABS) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were chosen as the model plastic and bacteria, respectively. The 500 °C calcined TiO2 successfully provided the best photoantibacterial activity, with an approximately 62% decrease of E. coli colony counts following 30 min of exposure. Heat treatment improved the crystallinity of anatase TiO2, resulting in low electron-hole recombination, while effectively adsorbing reactants on the surface. ABS with 500 °C-calcined TiO2 at the concentration of 1 wt % gave rise to the highest performance due to the improved distribution of TiO2. At this point, blending silane coupling agent could further improve the efficacy of photoantibacterial activity up to 75% due to greater interactions with the polymer matrix. Moreover, it could promote a 1.6-fold increase of yield strength via increased adherent bonding between TiO2 and the ABS matrix. Excellent photocatalytic and material stability can be achieved, with constant photocatalytic efficiency remaining for up to five reuse cycles without loss in the yield strength. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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10 pages, 2574 KiB  
Article
SiO2 NPs-PQ/PMMA Photopolymer Material Doped with a High-Concentration Photosensitizer for Holographic Storage
by Ying Liu, Fenglan Fan and Xiaodi Tan
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 816; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12040816 - 04 Apr 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3476
Abstract
Dispersing nanoparticles and increasing the photosensitizer concentration have been regarded as effective approaches for improving the performance of a holographic storage material. In this paper, SiO2 nanoparticle (NP)-dispersed PQ/PMMA nanocomposite material (SiO2 NP-PQ/PMMA) with a high PQ doping concentration was prepared. [...] Read more.
Dispersing nanoparticles and increasing the photosensitizer concentration have been regarded as effective approaches for improving the performance of a holographic storage material. In this paper, SiO2 nanoparticle (NP)-dispersed PQ/PMMA nanocomposite material (SiO2 NP-PQ/PMMA) with a high PQ doping concentration was prepared. By introducing the co-monomer methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) that comes from an SiO2 NP colloidal solution, the concentration of PQ in the system increased to 1.2 wt %. We investigated the performance of polarization holographic recordings in both traditional PQ/PMMA and nanocomposite material SiO2 NP-PQ/PMMA with the orthogonally polarized signal and reference waves. With the dispersion of the SiO2 NPs colloidal solution and the increase in the PQ concentration, diffraction efficiency and photoinduced birefringence were multiplied. In addition, high-quality holographic image reconstruction was achieved by our homemade material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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9 pages, 2385 KiB  
Article
Position Dependence of Emission Wavelength of a SiO2 Colloidal Photonic-Crystal Laser
by Ting-Hui Chen, Bing-Yau Huang and Chie-Tong Kuo
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 802; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12040802 - 03 Apr 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2189
Abstract
In this paper, a wavelength tunable colloidal-crystal laser with monodispersed silica particles was demonstrated. Silica particles were synthesized through the modified Stöber process and self-assembled into the colloidal photonic-crystal structure, which was then used to form the optic cavity of a wavelength tunable [...] Read more.
In this paper, a wavelength tunable colloidal-crystal laser with monodispersed silica particles was demonstrated. Silica particles were synthesized through the modified Stöber process and self-assembled into the colloidal photonic-crystal structure, which was then used to form the optic cavity of a wavelength tunable laser device. Due to Bragg’s diffraction of the colloidal photonic-crystal and the coffee ring effect, the forbidden energy gap of light varied with different lattice sizes at different positions of the colloidal photonic-crystal. When the pumping pulsed laser irradiated on the gain medium of the sample, the fluorescence was restricted and enhanced by the colloidal photonic-crystal. Lasing emission with a single peak occurred when the energy of the pumping laser exceeded the threshold energy. The threshold energy and the full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the proposed laser were 7.63 µJ/pulse and 2.88 nm, respectively. Moreover, the lasing wavelength of the colloidal photonic-crystal laser could be tuned from 604 nm to 594 nm, corresponding to the various positions in the sample due to the coffee ring effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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21 pages, 1883 KiB  
Article
Optical and Nonlinear Properties of Photonic Polymer Nanocomposites and Holographic Gratings Modified with Noble Metal Nanoparticles
by Oksana Sakhno, Pavel Yezhov, Volodymyr Hryn, Valentyn Rudenko and Tatiana Smirnova
Polymers 2020, 12(2), 480; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12020480 - 21 Feb 2020
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3807
Abstract
Nanocomposites based on transparent polymer matrices containing nanoparticles (NPs) of noble metals are modern-day materials that can be specially designed for photonics, linear and nonlinear optics, laser physics and sensing applications. We present the improved photosensitive nanocomposites doped with Au and Ag NPs [...] Read more.
Nanocomposites based on transparent polymer matrices containing nanoparticles (NPs) of noble metals are modern-day materials that can be specially designed for photonics, linear and nonlinear optics, laser physics and sensing applications. We present the improved photosensitive nanocomposites doped with Au and Ag NPs allowing fabrication of high effective submicrometer dimensional diffraction structures using holographic method. A general approach for the fabrication of holographic structures using a two-component mixture of the monomers of different reactivity was developed. Two different methods, ex situ and in situ, were studied to introduce Au and Ag NPs in the polymer matrix. The diffusion model of the grating formation upon holographic exposure as well as the process of Ag NP synthesis in a polymer matrix is considered. The influence of the NP size on the polymerization process, material dynamic range and nonlinear properties were investigated. The mechanisms and characteristics of the nanocomposite nonlinear optical response are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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14 pages, 16156 KiB  
Article
Complex Diffractive Optical Elements Stored in Photopolymers
by Roberto Fernández, Sergi Gallego, Andrés Márquez, Cristian Neipp, Eva María Calzado, Jorge Francés, Marta Morales-Vidal and Augusto Beléndez
Polymers 2019, 11(12), 1920; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym11121920 - 21 Nov 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3042
Abstract
We study the recording of complex diffractive elements, such as achromatic lenses, fork gratings or axicons. Using a 3-D diffusion model, previously validated, we are able to predict the behavior of photopolymer during recording. The experimental recording of these complex elements is possible [...] Read more.
We study the recording of complex diffractive elements, such as achromatic lenses, fork gratings or axicons. Using a 3-D diffusion model, previously validated, we are able to predict the behavior of photopolymer during recording. The experimental recording of these complex elements is possible thanks to a new generation spatial light modulator capable of generating periodic and aperiodic profiles. Both experimental and theoretical are analyzed and compared. The results show not only the good response of theoretical model to predict the behavior of the materials, but also the viability of photopolymers to store these kind of elements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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14 pages, 1846 KiB  
Article
LED-Cured Reflection Gratings Stored in an Acrylate-Based Photopolymer
by Manuel G. Ramírez, Daniel Sirvent, Marta Morales-Vidal, Manuel Ortuño, Francisco J. Martínez-Guardiola, Jorge Francés and Inmaculada Pascual
Polymers 2019, 11(4), 632; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym11040632 - 06 Apr 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2892
Abstract
The storage of volume holographic reflection gratings in low-toxicity photopolymers represents a challenge at present since they can be used in many important applications such as biosensors and holographic optical elements. In this context, an acrylate-based photopolymer developed in our research group was [...] Read more.
The storage of volume holographic reflection gratings in low-toxicity photopolymers represents a challenge at present since they can be used in many important applications such as biosensors and holographic optical elements. In this context, an acrylate-based photopolymer developed in our research group was employed to study the recording of unslanted holographic reflection gratings at high spatial frequencies. The optimal preparation conditions of the photopolymer layers were determinated. The diffraction efficiencies are measured in both recording and curing stage and a comparative study of these values was realized. In addition, a theoretical study using Kogelnik’s coupled wave theory was carried out with the aim of understanding the diffraction efficiency behaviour of both processes. In this work, a maximum diffraction efficiency of 14.1% was reached after a curing process in 150 µm layers at a recording wavelength of 488 nm. This value represents a good result compared to that reported in the literature and opens the way to reflection mode holography research using low-toxicity material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric and Polymer Nanocomposite Materials for Photonic Applications)
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