Tuneable Sagnac comb filter including two wave retarders

In this paper we study theoretically and experimentally a wavelength-tuneable Sagnac birefringence filter. The device is a Sagnac interferometer including a symmetric fibre coupler and a length of high-birefringence fibre in the loop. A wave retarder is inserted at each end of the birefringent fibre for absolute wavelength tuning. We show theoretically that wavelength tuning through wave plate orientation ensuring constant amplitude of the filtering function is possible only if a minimum of two wave retarders are included in the setup. The position of the transmission peaks then varies linearly with the angle of one of the retarders and can be adjusted over one entire channel spacing. This happens only when a quarter-wave retarder and a half-wave retarder are used, if the former is oriented at 45° with respect to the fibre birefringence axes, while the orientation of the latter serves as the adjustment parameter. The theoretical predictions are confirmed by the experimental results.     

Operation principle of self-phase compensated optical waveguide isolator

A theory is developed for the self-phase compensated optical waveguide isolator recently reported in the literature. The operation principle of such device is explained in terms of synchronization of phase and power conversion. The effect of balancing phase mismatches of the two convertors on achieving a proper percentage of mode conversion is revealed. The way to make use of the phase mismatches of different sections to accommodate the different requirements in phase relationship for the reciprocal and nonreciprocal mode convertors is discussed. The theory is extended to the case where phase compensator is used. It is demonstrated that the introduction of phase compensator separates the adjustment of phase from the adjustment of power for the mode convertors so that relaxes fabrication tolerances of such devices. An isolator consists of three phase mismatched waveguide sections is designed and simulated. The simulation results confirm the self-phase compensation theory.     

Integrated Devices to Realize Energy Conversion and Storage Simultaneously

Other forms of energy are generally converted to electric energy and then transported to electrochemical devices, where the energy is stored, by external electric wires. To further improve total energy conversion and storage efficiency, interest in simultaneously realize the energy conversion and storage in a single device has increased. This Concept describes recent progress in developing such novel integrated energy devices. Both planar and wire architectures are carefully illustrated with an emphasis on the “energy wire” which has been the focus of past developments due to its unique and promising applications, such as being woven into clothes or other complex structures by conventional textile technology. The current challenges and future directions of the integrated devices, particularly in the wire architecture, are summarized.     

A Bipodal Dicyano Anchor Unit for Single‐Molecule Spintronic Devices

The conductance through single 7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) connected to gold electrodes is studied with the nonequilibrium Green’s function method combined with density functional theory. The aim of the study is to derive the effect of a dicyano anchor group, ?C(CN)₂, on energy level alignment between the electrode Fermi level and a molecular energy level. The strong electron‐withdrawing nature of the dicyano anchor group lowers the LUMO level of TCNQ, resulting in an extremely small energy barrier for electron injection. At zero bias, electron transfer from electrodes easily occurs and, as a consequence, the anion radical state of TCNQ with a magnetic moment is formed. The unpaired electron in the TCNQ anion radical causes an exchange splitting between the spin‐α and spin‐β transmission spectra, allowing the single TCNQ junction to act as a spin‐filtering device.     

二维半导体材料与器件——从传统二维光电材料到石墨炔

近年来,二维半导体材料由于其独特的材料结构和电子输运特性得到了科学界的广泛关注,被应用于光电器件、催化和生物传感器等领域。本文系统概述了传统二维材料以及新兴二维材料石墨炔的发现和发展历程。重点聚焦在二维材料在光探测器领域中的应用,探讨了不同二维材料体系及器件结构对光探测器性能的影响;并详细介绍了新兴二维材料——石墨炔,及其合成和应用。展望了传统二维材料及石墨炔在光电转换器件的应用中所面临的机遇和挑战。     

An Automatic Molecular Dispenser of Chloride

The combined activity of the 1.1.1‐cryptand and of a dicopper(II) bistren cryptate complex including chloride makes the Cl^? ion be continuously and slowly delivered to the solution, without any external intervention. The 1.1.1‐cryptand slowly releases OH^? ions, according to a defined kinetics, and each OH^? ion displaces a Cl^? ion from the cryptate. Chloride displacement induces a sharp colour change from bright yellow to aquamarine and can be conveniently monitored spectrophotometrically, even in diluted solutions. The 1.1.1‐cryptand is the motor of a molecular dispenser (the dicopper(II) cryptate) delivering chloride ion automatically, from the inside of the solution.