One Dimensional Photonic Crystals Using Ultrahigh Refractive Index Chalcogenide Hybrid Inorganic/Organic Polymers

• Published in: ACS macro letters 2018-07, Vol.7 (7), p.875-880
• Main Authors: Kleine, Tristan S., Diaz, Liliana Ruiz, Konopka, Katrina M., Anderson, Laura E., Pavlopolous, Nicholas G., Lyons, Nicholas P., Kim, Eui Tae, Kim, Youngkeol, Glass, Richard S., Char, Kookheon, Norwood, Robert A., Pyun, Jeffrey
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2161-1653; 2161-1653
• DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.8b00245

We report on the fabrication of wholly polymeric one-dimensional (1-D) photonic crystals (i.e., Bragg reflectors, Bragg mirrors) via solution processing for use in the near (NIR) and the short wave (SWIR) infrared spectrum (1–2 μm) with very high reflectance (R ∼ 90–97%). Facile fabrication of these highly reflective films was enabled by direct access to solution processable, ultrahigh refractive index polymers, termed, Chalcogenide Hybrid Inorganic/Organic Polymers (CHIPs). The high refractive index (n) of CHIPs materials (n = 1.75–2.10) allowed for the production of narrow band IR Bragg reflectors with high refractive index contrast (Δn ∼ 0.5) when fabricated with low n polymers, such as cellulose acetate (n = 1.47). This is the highest refractive index contrast (Δn ∼ 0.5) demonstrated for an all-polymeric Bragg mirror which directly enabled high reflectivity from films with 22 layers or less. Facile access to modular, thin, highly reflective films from inexpensive CHIPs materials offers a new route to IR Bragg reflectors and other reflective coatings with potential applications for IR photonics, commercial sensing, and LIDAR applications.