A multilayer photonic structure is described that strongly reflects incident sunlight while emitting heat selectively through an atmospheric transparency window to outer space; this leads to passive cooling under direct sunlight of 5 degrees Celsius below ambient air temperature, which has potential applications in air-conditioning and energy efficiency.

/pdf/passive-radiative-cooling-below-ambient-air-temperature-4ldemmkn87.pdf

Passive radiative cooling below ambient air temperature under direct sunlight

Recent advancements in metamaterials and plasmonics have promised a number of exciting applications, in particular at terahertz and optical frequencies. Unfortunately, the noble metals used in these photonic structures are not particularly good conductors at high frequencies, resulting in significant dissipative loss. Here, we address the question of what is a good conductor for metamaterials and plasmonics. For resonant metamaterials, we develop a figure-of-merit for conductors that allows for a straightforward classification of conducting materials according to the resulting dissipative loss in the metamaterial. Application of our method predicts that graphene and high-Tc superconductors are not viable alternatives for metals in metamaterials. We also provide an overview of a number of transition metals, alkali metals and transparent conducting oxides. For plasmonic systems, we predict that graphene and high-Tc superconductors cannot outperform gold as a platform for surface plasmon polaritons, because graphene has a smaller propagation length-towavelength ratio.

/pdf/a-comparison-of-graphene-superconductors-and-metals-as-zowzzn95u4.pdf

A comparison of graphene, superconductors and metals as conductors for metamaterials and plasmonics

Networks made of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and metallic nanowire networks, graphene, and ultra-thin metal films have all been proposed as replacements for transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) in photovoltaic and other applications. However, only limited comparisons of nanostructured networks and TCOs are available. Several common figures of merit that are often used to compare the electrical and optical performance of the transparent contacts are evaluated here, and the merits of each method of comparison are discussed. Calculating the current loss due to absorption in the TCO is the most useful metric for evaluating new materials for use in solar cells with well-defined sheet resistance requirements and known quantum efficiencies. The ‘Haacke’ figure of merit, ΦH, correlates fairly well with current loss and is a good metric for evaluating electro-optical performance for more general applications. The analyses presented here demonstrate that silver nanowire networks are much closer to achieving optimal electrical and optical properties than carbon-based networks.

Comparing the Fundamental Physics and Device Performance of Transparent, Conductive Nanostructured Networks with Conventional Transparent Conducting Oxides

Versatile devices, especially tunable ones, for terahertz imaging, sensing and high-speed communication, are in high demand. Liquid crystal based components are perfect candidates in the optical range; however, they encounter significant challenges in the terahertz band, particularly the lack of highly transparent electrodes and the drawbacks induced by a thick cell. Here, a strategy to overcome all these challenges is proposed: Few-layer porous graphene is employed as an electrode with a transmittance of more than 98%. A subwavelength metal wire grid is utilized as an integrated high-efficiency electrode and polarizer. The homogeneous alignment of a high-birefringence liquid crystal is implemented on both frail electrodes via a non-contact photo-alignment technique. A tunable terahertz waveplate is thus obtained. Its polarization evolution is directly demonstrated. Furthermore, quarter-wave plates that are electrically controllable over the entire testing range are achieved by stacking two cells. The proposed solution may pave a simple and bright road toward the development of various liquid crystal terahertz apparatuses. Light: Science & Applications (2015) 4, e253; doi:10.1038/lsa.2015.26; published online 27 February 2015

/pdf/broadband-tunable-liquid-crystal-terahertz-waveplates-driven-2x2ezbgsw4.pdf

Broadband tunable liquid crystal terahertz waveplates driven with porous graphene electrodes

We report studies of the terahertz (THz) transmission through vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films grown on c-, m-, and r-plane sapphire substrates. Our results revealed THz amplitude modulation as large as 84% for VO2 films grown on r-plane sapphire substrates upon crossing the metal–insulator phase transition temperature. Complex optical conductivity and refractive indices were determined for all investigated samples in the metallic state. Results are consistent with electrical resistivity measurements and described based on the Drude model. The real and imaginary parts of the optical conductivity and refractive index are obtained, and associations with variations in the grain morphology and crystal quality are described. We show that VO2 thin films can be used as tunable broadband THz frequency antireflecting coatings.

Effect of substrate orientation on terahertz optical transmission through VO_2 thin films and application to functional antireflection coatings

Transparent and conducting indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films form an integral part for various optoelectronic devices. In this paper, we report the frequency-dependent complex conductivities and dielectric responses of several sputtered ITO thin films with thicknesses in the range of 189-962 nm by using terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS), optical reflectance spectroscopy, and electrical measurements. The plasma frequencies are verified to be from 1590 to 1930 rad·THz, while the scattering times are in the range 6-7 fs based on the Drude free-electron model. The mobilities of the above ITO thin films are calculated to be 32.7-34.2 cm2 V-1 s-1, whereas the carrier concentrations lie in the range 2.79-4.10× 1020 cm-3. The electrical properties derived from the THz-TDS technique agree well with those determined by Hall measurement. Parameters for the complex dielectric function suitable for ITO in the range 0.2-2 and 4-450 THz are also determined.

https://ir.nctu.edu.tw:443/bitstream/11536/31867/1/000284358400007.pdf

Frequency-Dependent Complex Conductivities and Dielectric Responses of Indium Tin Oxide Thin Films From the Visible to the Far-Infrared

The present invention coherent multiple-stage optical rectification terahertz wave generator discloses the generation of single-cycle terahertz radiation with two-stage optical rectification in GaSe crystals. By adjusting the time delay between the pump pulses employed to excite the two stages, the terahertz radiation from the second GaSe crystal can constructively superpose with the seeding terahertz field from the first stage. The high mutual coherence between the two terahertz radiation fields is ensured with the coherent optical rectification process and can be further used to synthesize a desired spectral profile of output coherent THz radiation. The technique is also useful for generating high amplitude single-cycle terahertz pulses, not limited by the pulse walk-off effect from group velocity mismatch in the nonlinear optical crystal used.

https://ir.nctu.edu.tw:443/bitstream/11536/105386/1/20100215065.pdf

Coherent multiple-stage optical rectification terahertz wave generator

Optical properties and potential applications of epsilon-GaSe at terahertz frequencies

In this paper, time-resolved PL, lifetime and crystallization of a novel organic, 2,8-di(t-butyl)-5,11-di[4(t-butyl)phenyl]-6,12-diphenylnaphthacene, which is considered to be potential candidate to substitute the conventionally used 5,6,11,12-tetraphenylnaphthacene for a higher efficient yellow-color organic LED, were investigated. The PL intensity will reduce when the irradiation time increases because of photo-quenching. It is shown that oxidation is the dominant reason for photo-quenching. In addition, TBRb has two lifetimes. The short one is /spl sim/5 ns and the long one is /spl sim/31 ns. They are considerably contributed by the short PL peak and long PL peak respectively. Furthermore, we first report, to the best knowledge, crystallization of TBRb at low temperature of 11 K and with irradiation.

/pdf/optical-properties-of-a-novel-dye-in-yellow-fluorescent-2kgsds055q.pdf

Optical properties of a novel dye in yellow fluorescent organic LEDs

Optical sum-frequency generation and ferroelectric-like switching in Si-O polar structures comprised of Si nanocrystals (nc-Si) in mesoporous silica was reported and attributed to polar layers lying at the interfaces between one-side bounded nc-Si and host

Ching-Wei Chen

Papers

Frequency-Dependent Complex Conductivities and Dielectric Responses of Indium Tin Oxide Thin Films From the Visible to the Far-Infrared

Coherent multiple-stage optical rectification terahertz wave generator

Optical properties and potential applications of epsilon-GaSe at terahertz frequencies

Optical properties of a novel dye in yellow fluorescent organic LEDs

Optical sum-frequency generation and Ferroelectric-like switching in Si-O polar structures