Work

Stretchable optical diffraction grating from poly(acrylic acid)/polyethylene oxide stereocomplex

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Advances in optical materials, which were initially static elements, have enabled dynamically tunable optical diffraction gratings to be designed. One common tuning strategy relies on mechanical deformation of the grating pitch to modify the diffraction pattern. In the present work, we demonstrate an all-polymer tunable diffraction grating fabricated using a modified replica molding process. The poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymer stereocomplex films exhibit optical transmittance at or above 80% from 500 nm to 1400 nm and stretchability over 800% strain with reversibility under 70% strain. The imprinted gratings are characterized at 633 nm and 1064 nm under a range of strain conditions. The measured tunability agrees with finite element method modeling.

Source: Optics Letters

DOI: 10.1364/ol.432699

Authors: Jinghan He, Andre Kovach, Yunxiang Wang, William Wang, Wei Wu, Andrea M. Armani

Institution: University of Southern California

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Materials and Mechanics

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Office of Naval Research, Army Research Office

Awards: G1050105151, G2228745249, G7131926092