Abstract
We demonstrate proof-of-concept refractive-index structures with large refractive-index-gradient profiles, using a micro-contact photothermal annealing (μCPA) process to pattern organic/inorganic hybrid materials comprising titanium oxide hydrate within a poly(vinyl alcohol) binder. A significant refractive index modulation of up to Δn ≈ +0.05 can be achieved with μCPA within less than a second of pulsed lamp exposure, which promises the potential for a high throughput fabrication process of photonic structures with a polymer-based system.
Original language | English (US) |
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Journal | Materials Horizons |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 20 2021 |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2021-10-27Acknowledgements: We like to thank Dr J. Gebers and Dr A. Hafner, from BASF Schweiz for highly valuable discussion, and Dr Irene Votta for materials characterization. WSB, HKY, PS, DDCB and NS thank the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for funding via the Centre for Doctoral Training in Plastic Electronics Materials, PE-CDT (EP/G037515/1). SB, HKY, DDCB, PS and NS furthermore acknowledge funding provided by BASF Schweiz AG towards this PE-CDT project. NS and PS are, moreover, grateful for support by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Network ‘‘H2020-MSCAITN-2014 INFORM – 675867’’. KT and TDA acknowledge the financial support from the People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the European Union’s Framework Programme Horizon 2020:
‘‘Flexible Complementary Hybrid Integrated Circuits’’ (FlexCHIC), Grant Agreement No. 658563. Finally, NS acknowledges further support by the U.S. National Science Foundation (DMR #1838276).