A Versatile Materials Class for Solution‐Processed Optics and Photonics Based On Titanium Oxide Hydrates and Polyalcohols: A Perspective
Abstract
Abstract The ability to propagate light within a structure comprising a controlled spatial distribution of the refractive index n 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. This perspective discusses a new versatile class of optical materials based on molecular hybrids of metal oxide hydrates and commodity polymers, such as poly(vinyl alcohol). These fascinating, easy‐to‐produce materials are examined, and their processing into useful architectures such as photonic crystals is reviewed, with a focus on thin‐film optics. Their potential in other areas is also assessed, for instance, for the fabrication of optical microcavities that allow the formation of exciton‐polaritons, enabling studies on strong light‐matter interactions. Generally, these molecular hybrids open future opportunities in applications like optics, photonics, quantum devices, catalysis, and beyond.
Article Details
Authors (10)
Victoria Quirós‐Cordero
Department of Materials Science and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta Georgia 30332 USA
Alex H. Balzer
Center for Plastics Innovation (CPI), Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Center for Research in Soft Matter and Polymers (CRiSP)
Stefan Bachevillier
Department of Materials and Centre for Plastics Electronics Imperial College of London London SW7 2AZ UK
Nissa Watkins
Department of Physics Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta Georgia 30332 USA
António Fernandes Ferreira
Department of Materials Science and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta Georgia 30332 USA
Joseph Mushyakov
Department of Materials Science and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta Georgia 30332 USA
Mehul Dhoot
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta Georgia 30332 USA
Carlos Silva‐Acuña
Institut Courtois & Département de Physique Université de Montréal Montréal Québec Canada
Paul N. Stavrinou
Oxford Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research (OSCAR) University of Oxford Suzhou China
Natalie Stingelin
School of Materials Science and Engineering