Linear optical switching in a FLC/waveguide composite device

Abstract

A fast electrooptic modulation in a polymer waveguide using a ferroelectric liquid crystal has been proposed. In this device, the surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal and the soft mode ferroelectric liquid crystal are used as an active material on the passive polymer waveguide, and electrooptic switching is realized by controlling the total reflection at the polymer waveguide-liquid crystal interface. The response time is of the order of several microseconds. The analogue electrooptic modulation in the waveguide is realized using the field induced linear molecular tilt of the electroclinic effect in the soft mode ferroelectric liquid crystal.     

Sul-containing fluorinated polyimides for optical waveguide device

Novel sul-containing fluorinated polyimides have been synthesized by the reaction of 2,2′-bis-(trifluoromethyl)-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfide (TFDAS) with 1,4-bis-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzene dianhydride (HQDPA), 2,2′-bis-(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA), 4,4′-oxydiphthalicanhydride (ODPA) or 3,4,3′,4′-biphenyl-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (s-BPDA). The fluorinated polyimides, prepared by a one-step polycondensation procedure, have good solubility in many solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), cyclohexanone, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and m-cresol. The molecular weights (M_n's) and polydispersities (M_n/M_w's) of polyimides were in the range of 1.24 × 10⁵ to 3.21 × 10⁵ and 1.59–2.20, respectively. The polymers exhibit excellent thermal stabilities, with glass-transition temperatures (T_g) at 221–275 °C and the 5% weight-loss temperature are above 531 °C. After crosslinking, these polymers show higher thermal stability. The films of polymers have high optical transparency. The novel sul-containing fluorinated polyimides also have low absorption at both 1310 and 1550 nm wavelength windows. Rib-type optical waveguide device was fabricated using the fluorinated polyimides and the near-field mode pattern of the waveguide was demonstrated.     

Linear and nonlinear optical characterization of a tetraphenylporphyrin-carbon nanotube composite system

We present a study of tetraphenylporphyrin composites formed with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Stable porphyrin/SWNT composite solutions were obtained by non-covalent bonding between the carbon nanotubes and conjugated tetraphenylporphyrin molecules. Transmission electron microscopy reveals porphyrin molecules adhering to the nanotube surface. We report on the first complete linear and nonlinear optical characterization of these nanocomposite materials. The composite solutions were found to be superior optical limiters to nanotubes alone, and to all porphyrin systems studied, including metalloporphyrins.     

A photoelectronic switching device using a mixed self-assembled monolayer

A cathodic-anodic biway photoelectronic device has been successfully constructed using a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). The SAM consists of two kinds of photofunctional thiol derivatives, a ruthenium complex-viologen linked compound (RuVS) and a phthalocyanine derivative (PcS), on a gold electrode. Structural characterization of the SAM has been carried out by absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry. Photocurrent responses were measured in the presence of methyl viologen (MV2+) and oxygen as electron acceptors and triethanolamine (TEOA) as a sacrificial reagent. For the SAM of RuVS alone, intramolecular electron transfer (ET) was superior to intermolecular ET, resulting in anodic photocurrents even in the presence of MV2+ and oxygen at 0 V vs Ag/AgCl. On the contrary, only cathodic photocurrents were observed at 0 V for the SAM of PcS alone. Photocurrents from the mixed SAM of RuVS and PcS were roughly the sum of individual photocurrents from RuVS and PcS. In fact, photocurrents from the mixed SAM of RuVS and PcS were observed in the anodic direction below approximately 550 nm, and in the cathodic direction above approximately 550 nm at 0 V vs Ag/AgCl. In the case of the mixed SAM of RuS (ruthenium complex disulfide) and PcS, only cathodic photocurrents were observed at 0 V vs Ag/AgCl, due to the lack of an intramolecular ET pathway. The results indicate that in the mixed SAM of RuVS and PcS both dyes can individually function for opposite photocurrent generation. We have also applied the mixed SAM as a photoelectronic logic device by using two LEDs (470 and 640 nm). The system clearly operated as an XOR logic device.     

Ion chromatographic system with a novel switching suppression device

Ion chromatography (IC) has been a powerful tool for measuring ionic species in environmental samples such as tap, river and drain waters. Suppressor modules (membrane and disposable column types) have been used for reducing the background of a baseline. A new type of suppressor device, which has a suppressor resin and switching valve was developed. Fresh ionic resin is introduced into a groove for each analysis to perform the suppression of the working eluent. The eluent composition for obtaining higher sensitivity and better resolutions among ionic species and carbonate ion was also investigated. Although carbonate buffers are used for ion separation in general, the separation of carbonate ion from other ions was not achieved. A borate eluent resulted in good resolutions and higher sensitivity. A new column was also developed for obtaining higher column efficiency and resolution. The optimization of anion separation using a new IC system (IC-2001) that consists of a new suppressor device, an anion-exchange column (TSKgel SuperIC-Anion, 150x4.6 mm), an autosampler, a conductivity cell and a pump in a compact module is described.     

Development of a non-labeled immunosensor for the herbicide trifluralin via optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopic detection

A highly sensitive immunosensor using optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy (OWLS) was developed for the detection of the herbicide trifluralin. OWLS as an in situ and label free method of detection, based on the measurement of the diffraction of a linearly polarized laser beam (He-Ne laser, 632.8 nm) on a diffraction grating in a thin waveguide layer (SiO₂-TiO₂), offered means to produce immunosensors utilizing immobilized antibodies raised against trifluralin allowing a non-competitive biosensor, or immobilized trifluralin conjugate allowing a competitive biosensor for this analyte. Immobilization of molecules sensitizing the sensor was undertaken on amino silanized waveguide surfaces in a two-step procedure using glutaraldehyde. Within the immobilized antibody (Ab) based immunosensor the signal measured was proportional to the trifluralin content in the samples, but the method allowed detection of trifluralin only above 100 ng ml⁻¹ due to the small molecular size of the antigen (Ag). In the immobilized antigen based immunosensor, a trifluralin-bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugate was covalently linked to the waveguide surface. During measurements the standard solutions and samples were mixed in 1:1 ratio with antiserum, containing constant amounts of antibodies. The amount of free antibodies bound to the surface was inversely proportional to the trifluralin content of the solutions measured. The immobilized antigen based method allowed detection of trifluralin in the concentration range of 2×10⁻⁷ to 3×10⁻⁵ ng ml⁻¹. Results of trifluralin determinations were compared to those obtained in parallel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests and in gas chromatorgraphic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analyses, and indicated an increase of six orders of magnitude in the limit of detection (LOD).     

Potential switching of optical properties in polymer electrolytes

The electric field dependence of the optical properties of a series of anion-conducting polymer electrolytes at an ITO–electrolyte interface was investigated. A change in reflectance and refractive index of polymer electrolytes [poly(ethyl methacrylate)]₁₈(Bu₃SnX)₃Bu₄NX where X = Cl, Br, and SCN was observed. This was ascribed to anion accumulation/depletion in the interfacial region. Shorter response times were observed for electrolytes with higher conductivities, illustrating the interrelationship between these two phenomena. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 2057–2062, 1997     

光波导传感元件在检测酸性气体中的应用

采用旋转甩涂法将甲基紫传感薄膜固定在特制的锡(Sn2+,Sn4+)掺杂玻璃光波导(Sn doped glass slide)表面,研究了该传感薄膜与HCl、H2S、以及SO2作用前后的可见吸收光谱的变化,并在此基础上研制了玻璃光波导酸性气体(HCl、H2S、SO2)传感元件。传感薄膜与酸性气体作用时,薄膜的颜色发生变化,从而降低薄膜对倏逝波的吸收,使传感器的输出光强度(信号)增强。本文采用流动注射法对酸性气体进行了检测。实验结果表明,在室温下,该传感元件对硫化氢气体具有明显的响应,而对相同浓度的其他酸性气体的响应相对较小,对浓度在6×10-4～2.5×10-5(V/V)的硫化氢气体具有良好的线性响应(R=0.9979,n=4),相对标准偏差(RSD)为±3.5%,具有响应快、可逆性和重复性好、容易制备、可以在室温下工作等特点。     

Polymer waveguide backplanes for optical sensor interfaces in microfluidics

A polymer optical backplane capable of generic luminescence detection within microfluidic chips is demonstrated using large core polymer waveguides and vertical couplers. The waveguides are fabricated through a new process combining mechanical machining and vapor polishing with elastomer microtransfer molding. A backplane approach enables general optical integration with planar array microfluidics since optical backplanes can be independently designed but still integrated with planar fluidic circuits. Fabricated large core waveguides exhibit a loss of 0.1 dB cm(-1) at 626 nm, a measured numerical aperture of 0.50, and a collection efficiency of 2.86% in an n = 1.459 medium, comparable to a 0.50 NA microscope objective. In addition to vertical couplers for out-of-plane collection and excitation, polymer waveguides are doped with organic dyes to provide wavelength selective filtering within waveguides, further improving optical device integration. With large core low loss waveguides, luminescence collection is improved and measurements can be performed with simple LEDs and photodetectors. Fluorescein detection via fluorescence intensity with a limit of detection (3sigma) of 200 nM in a 1 microL volume is demonstrated. Phosphorescence lifetime based oxygen detection in water in an oxygen controllable microbial cell culture chip with a limit of detection (3sigma) of 0.08% or 35 ppb is also demonstrated utilizing the waveguide backplane. Single waveguide luminescence collection performance is equivalent to a back collection geometry fiber bundle consisting of nine 500 microm diameter collection fibers.     

Dynamic manipulation of modes in an optical waveguide using dielectrophoresis

The emergence of optofluidics has brought a high degree of tuneability and reconfigurability to optical devices. These possibilities are provided by characteristics of fluids including mobility, wide range of index modulation, and abrupt interfaces that can be easily reshaped. In this work, we created a new class of optofluidic waveguides, in which suspended mesoparticles were employed to greatly enhance the flexibility of the system. We demonstrated tuneable quasi single mode waveguides using spatially controllable mesoparticles in optofluidics. The coupling of waveguiding modes into the assembly of mesoparticles produces strong interactions and resonant conditions, which promote the transitions of the waveguiding modes. The modal response of the system depends on the distribution of packed particles above the polymeric rib waveguide which can be readily controlled under the appropriate combination of dielectrophoresis and hydrodynamic forces.     

Characteristics of a liquid/liquid optical waveguide using sheath flow and its application to detect molecules at a liquid/liquid interface.

The formation conditions and characteristics of a liquid/liquid optical waveguide (LLW) were studied using a two-phase sheath flow, where the inner organic phase flow acted as the core and the outer aqueous flow acted as the clad. In immiscible solvent systems, i.e., toluene/water and diethyl ether/water systems, the LLWs were formed in the range of higher than ca. 600 of the Reynolds number (Re), where the linear velocity of the organic solvent was much higher than that of the aqueous solution. On the other hand, in a miscible solvent system, i.e., a tetrahydrofuran/water system, a stable LLW was formed in the range of a much lower Re than in immiscible systems. Moreover, the molecules at the toluene/water interface of the LLW were observed with both fluorescence and absorbance measurement systems. In particular, the change in the fluorescence spectrum of 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) at the interface within 1 ms was observed by this method, indicating the usefulness of the LLW for a fast kinetic study of a liquid/liquid interface.     

A pentaporphyrin as a switching device activated by proton and redox stimuli.

A new pentaporphyrin array, constituted by a peptidic backbone and lateral chains with two free-base, one Mg(II), and two Zn(II) porphyrins, has been synthesized. The electrochemical and photophysical properties are not the mere superposition of those of its model compounds: slight shifts of the E(1/2) values and strong perturbation of both the Soret and Q-band absorption show substantial ground-state interactions among the component units, which take advantage of the rather flexible nature of the peptidic links. This multiporphyrin array, despite the flexible and nonconjugated nature of the peptidic spacers, plays the role of an antenna for visible light: an efficient photoinduced energy transfer takes place from the metalated porphyrin units to the free-base ones. Furthermore, the light emitted by the antenna can be: 1) tuned upon protonation of the free-base units, or 2) turned off by a redox input, since the formation of the Mg porphyrin radical cation, by either electrochemical or chemical methods, quenches the free-base porphyrin emission. Both quenching and tuning of the emission from the light-collecting center can be fully reverted by redox or chemical stimuli.     

Cooperative thermal and optical switching of spin states in a new two-dimensional coordination polymer

(Fe(pmd)2[Cu(CN)2]2) (pmd = pyrimidine) displays a rigid two-dimensional structure and undergoes thermal- and optical-driven spin crossover behaviour; cooperative elastic coupling between iron(II) ions in the framework induces thermal hysteresis in the HS <--> LS conversion and sigmoidal HS --> LS relaxation of the photo-induced HS state at low temperatures.     

Metal‐induced optical sensing and optical switching in poly(pyridyl phenylene)

The synthesis of a conjugated polymer containing pyridyl units in the polymer backbone was successfully carried out with 2,6‐dibromopyridine and a diboronic acid derivative via the Suzuki coupling reaction. This polymer had a number‐average molecular weight of 4000 and excellent solubility in conventional organic solvents; this suggested the effect of the incorporation of dialkoxy side chains. A metallochromic phenomenon with ferric ions was clearly observed in spin‐coated films and solutions of the polymer. The response of the absorption and the fluorescence changes of the polymer films were rapid and were reproduced more than 15 times. A lightly bound intermolecular interaction between the pyridine ligand and cation was presumed to be responsible for the facile optical switching property of the polymer films. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2444–2450, 2004     

Electrostatic current switching and negative differential resistance behavior in a molecular device based on carbon nanotubes

The electronic transport properties of an all-carbon mechanically controlled molecular device based on carbon nanotubes are studied using non-equilibrium Green's function in combination with density functional theory. A segment of (10,0) single-walled carbon nanutube (SWCNT) is placed concentrically outside a (5,0) SWCNT, namely, a (5,0)@(10,0) double-walled carbon nanotube (DWCNT). It is found that the position, orientation and length scaling of the (10,0) SWCNT have crucial effects on the electronic transport properties of the system. When the (10,0) SWCNT is mechanically pushed forward along the axial direction, alternation of on/off switching behavior under low bias and negative differential resistance behavior under high bias are observed. Significant changes in the electronic transport properties arise when rotating the (10,0) SWCNT around the common axis or adding carbon atom layers in the transport direction. Theoretical explanations are proposed for these phenomena.     

An optical reflected device using a molecularly imprinted polymer film sensor

A novel and highly selective optical sensor with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) film was fabricated and investigated. The optical sensor head employing a medium finesse molecularly imprinted polymer film has been fabricated and characterised. A blank polymer and formaldehyde imprinted polymer were using methacrylic acid as the functional monomer and the ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinker. The transduction mechanism is discussed based on the changes of optical intensity of molecularly imprinted polymer film acting as an optical reflected sensor. Template molecules, which diffused into MIP, could cause film density, and refractive index change, and then induce measurable optical reflective intensity shifts. Based on the reflective intensity shifts, an optical reflection detection of formaldehyde was achieved by illuminating MIP with a laser beam. For the same MIP, the reflective intensity shift was proportional to the amount of template molecule. This optical sensor, based on an artificial recognition system, demonstrates long-time stability and resistance to harsh chemical environments. As the research moves forward gradually, we establish the possibilities of quantitative analysis primly, setting the groundwork to the synthesis of the molecular imprinted optical fiber sensor. The techniques show good reproducibility and sensitivity and will be of significant interest to the MIPcommunity.     

Fe_3O_4/Au composite nano-particles and their optical properties

The colloid gold and magnetic particle modified with various chemical groups have been widely used in the areas of biomedical and molecular biology[1―6]. Therefore, a great deal of attention has been given to the preparation and application of colloid go…     

类钙钛矿甲酸盐的线性和非线性光学响应

采用原位溶剂热法合成了2种混合有机阳离子杂化甲酸盐(CH (NH₂)₂)[RE (HCOO)₄](RE=Y、Er)。这2种材料是同构的(手性空间群C222₁),并具有有趣的类钙钛矿结构。进行了包括线性和非线性光学特性在内的光物理研究。(CH (NH₂)₂)[Y (HCOO)4]和(CH (NH₂)₂)[Er (HCOO)₄]分别表现出5.59和5.61 eV的宽光学带隙,对应于222和221 nm的紫外吸收边缘。粉末倍频测量表明,(CH (NH₂)₂)[Y (HCOO)₄]和(CH (NH₂)₂)[Er (HCOO)₄]的倍频效应分别是基准KH₂PO₄(KDP)的0.32和0.37倍。测量得到(CH (NH₂)₂)[Y (HCOO)₄]和(CH (NH₂)₂)[Er (HCOO)₄]的双折射率分别为0.013和0.015。第一性原理研究表明,2个π共轭的(CH (NH₂)₂)⁺和HCOO^-基团是光学性质的主要贡献者。     

类钙钛矿甲酸盐的线性和非线性光学响应

采用原位溶剂热法合成了2种混合有机阳离子杂化甲酸盐(CH(NH₂)₂)[RE (HCOO)₄](RE=Y、Er)。这2种材料是同构的(手性空间群C222₁),并具有有趣的类钙钛矿结构。进行了包括线性和非线性光学特性在内的光物理研究。(CH(NH₂)₂)[Y(HCOO)₄]和(CH(NH₂)₂)[Er(HCOO)₄]分别表现出5.59和5.61 eV的宽光学带隙,对应于222和221 nm的紫外吸收边缘。粉末倍频测量表明,(CH(NH₂)₂)[Y(HCOO)₄]和(CH(NH₂)₂)[Er(HCOO)₄]的倍频效应分别是基准KH₂PO₄(KDP)的0.32和0.37倍。测量得到(CH(NH₂)₂)[Y(HCOO)₄]和(CH(NH₂)₂)[Er(HCOO)₄]的双折射率分别为0.013和0.015。第一性原理研究表明,2个π共轭的(CH(NH₂)₂)⁺和HCOO^-基团是光学性质的主要贡献者。