3D Printed Photoresponsive Materials for Photonics

Year: 2019

Authors: Nocentini Sara; Martella Daniele; Parmeggiani Camilla; Wiersma Diederik S.

Autors Affiliation: European Lab Nonlinear Spect, Via Nello Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Univ Florence, Dept Phys & Astron, Via Sansone 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Ist Nazl Ric Metrol INRiM, Str Cacce 91, I-10135 Turin, Italy; CNR, Natl Inst Opt, Via Nello Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Univ Florence, Dept Chem Ugo Schiff, Via Lastruccia 3-13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy

Abstract: Polymer photonics explores manufacturing of polymeric materials in order to create devices for light manipulation at the nanoscale. Available lithographic techniques give access to a truly 3D shaping, which can replicate computer-aided designs by several methods. Among them, direct laser writing enables nanoscale precision fabrication. This platform allows integration of advanced materials for reconfigurable elements, whose shape and refractive index can be precisely controlled by external stimuli. This Progress Report collects the recent advances in the field of light-tunable photonics, where polymers are used not only as passive elements for guiding and manipulating light but also to control the optical properties of the devices themselves. This creates dynamic structures with multifunctional performance. Starting from a brief description of light-responsive materials patterned by direct laser writing (focusing on liquid crystalline networks), examples of integration of photonic materials on different platforms are shown-from simple photonic devices (as lenses or diffraction gratings) to their integration in photonic circuits (as active whispering gallery mode resonator coupled to waveguide). As most of the active materials are demonstrated to be biocompatible, implantable photonic platforms can be foreseen for biomedical applications.

Journal/Review: ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS

Volume: 7 (16)      Pages from: 1900156-1  to: 1900156-13

More Information: The authors acknowledge funding from Laserlab-Europe (EU-H2020 654148), Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze (grants: 2015/0781, 2017/0713, 2017/0881), and Fondazione Telethon (grant GGP16191
KeyWords: direct laser writing; liquid crystalline networks; photo-responsive materials; soft materials; tunable photonics
DOI: 10.1002/adom.201900156

Citations: 43
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