Two-dimensional graphene monolayers and bilayers exhibit fascinating electrical transport behaviors. Using infrared spectroscopy, we find that they also have strong interband transitions and that their optical transitions can be substantially modified through electrical gating, much like electrical transport in field-effect transistors. This gate dependence of interband transitions adds a valuable dimension for optically probing graphene band structure. For a graphene monolayer, it yields directly the linear band dispersion of Dirac fermions, whereas in a bilayer, it reveals a dominating van Hove singularity arising from interlayer coupling. The strong and layer-dependent optical transitions of graphene and the tunability by simple electrical gating hold promise for new applications in infrared optics and optoelectronics.

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Gate-Variable Optical Transitions in Graphene

Biological systems possess nanoarchitectures that have evolved for specific purposes and whose ability to modulate the flow of light creates an extraordinary diversity of natural photonic structures. In particular, the striking beauty of the structural colouration observed in nature has inspired technological innovation in many fields. Intense research has been devoted to mimicking the unique vivid colours with newly designed photonic structures presenting stimuli-responsive properties, with remarkable applications in health care, safety and security. This review highlights bioinspired photonic approaches in this context, starting by presenting many appealing examples of structural colours in nature, followed by describing the versatility of fabrication methods and designed coloured structures. A particular focus is given to optical sensing for medical diagnosis, food control and environmental monitoring, which has experienced a significant growth, especially considering the advances in obtaining inexpensive miniaturized systems, more reliability, fast responses, and the use of label-free layouts. Additionally, naturally derived biomaterials and synthetic polymers are versatile and fit many different structural designs that are underlined. Progress in bioinspired photonic polymers and their integration in novel devices is discussed since recent developments have emerged to lift the expectations of smart, flexible, wearable and portable sensors. The discussion is expanded to give emphasis on additional functionalities offered to related biomedical applications and the use of structural colours in new sustainable strategies that could meet the needs of technological development.

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Photonics in nature and bioinspired designs: sustainable approaches for a colourful world

In this paper, a photonic crystal structure based on nonlinear cavities has been proposed to improve the time response of a 2-to-4 decoder. The structure includes an array of chalcogenide rods with an air gap in which the spatial period of rods is 500 nm. The radius of the fundamental rods is assumed to be 125 nm, which results in a photonic bandgap of 1092–1724 nm at TM mode. Three cavities, including the nonlinear rods with a Kerr coefficient of 10−14m2/W, drop the incoming waves concerning the amount of optical intensity. The finite-difference time-domain method was used to calculate the components of the electric and magnetic fields throughout the structure. The time analysis of the device shows the rise time is equal to 200 fs, which is less than one for the previous structures. The area of 110µm2 and the margins of 4% and 88% for logics 0 and 1 are other advantages of the proposed structure. Based on the obtained results, it was proven that the performance of the 2-to-4 photonic crystal-based decoder has been improved by this work.

Ultra-fast all-optical 2-to-4 decoder based on a photonic crystal structure

Photonic quasi-crystals and photonic crystals with certain degrees of disorder can have a broadband light–matter interaction. In this paper, we present the holographic fabrication of graded photonic super-quasi-crystals through pixel-by-pixel phase pattern engineering using a spatial light modulator. Using the same phase pattern arranged in a decagon, we have fabricated graded photonic super-quasi-crystals with five-fold symmetry and multiple levels of gradients and graded photonic super-crystals with rectangular unit super-cells, depending on the Fourier filter. Although a certain degree of disorder was incorporated in the quasi-crystals, we still observed the golden ratio in the diameters of the diffraction rings of the fabricated quasi-crystals, indicating five-fold symmetry. Using direct pixel-by-pixel phase engineering, the same laser projection system, consisting of an integrated spatial light modulator and a reflective optical element, can be used for the fabrication of graded photonic super-crystals with various symmetries. The multi-level gradient effects on the optical properties of an organic light-emitting diode were simulated. When the cathode of an organic light-emitting device is patterned in the graded photonic super-crystals, a light extraction efficiency up to 76% in the visible range can be achieved.

Holographic fabrication of graded photonic super-quasi-crystals with multiple-level gradients.

High-performance photo-triggered electronic devices have already become an abiding target of optoelectronics. Current results, involving high-sensitivity phototransistors with the enhancement of material properties or the modification of electrical field, need an independent external light-source system. Nevertheless, few research studies inform of circuits in which the logic channel can be directly light controlled by a fully integrated photogate. In this paper, nanowire-based photon-effect transistors (PETs) combined with organic light-emitting diode (OLED) gates, and the photo-triggered nanowire circuits (PTNCs) are exhibited. The nanowire channels are manifested as high-quality optical cavities coupled by reflective electrodes for forming standing wave resonance. With the function of resonance, the nanowire channel under the illumination of the OLED gate can reach a high on/off ratio of ∼107, and under the different interconnected configuration of OLED gates, the functions of PETs can separately be realized as P-type and N-type of CMOS-like transistors. Then, a PTNC inverter that includes two nanowire channels with the respective OLED gates is operated utilizing electrical input voltage and logic opposite output signal. NAND and NOR gates as PTNC have also been demonstrated and indicate their corresponding outstanding arithmetic logic operation. PTNCs can effectively represent an innovative step toward multipurpose photonic circuits as to programmable logic components and photo-triggered computing.

Photo-Triggered Logic Circuits Assembled on Integrated Illuminants and Resonant Nanowires.

For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, we have combined a spatial light modulator with a single reflective optical element for the holographic fabrication of graded photonic super-crystals. The hybrid laser projection system takes advantage of the spatial light modulator for pixel-by-pixel phase control and the reflective optical element for large-area, small-feature fabrication. Graded photonic super-crystals with dual period, or with dual period and dual basis, have been fabricated with location dependence across the interference pattern. The fabricated samples have been explained by the simulation of eight-beam interference patterns.

Holographic fabrication of graded photonic super-crystals using an integrated spatial light modulator and reflective optical element laser projection system

The newly discovered graded, superlattice photonic crystals with dual periodicity and dual basis present great opportunity for electromagnetic wave control in photonic devices. These graded superlattices can be holographically fabricated by eight beam interference lithography. We have computed, through electrodynamic simulation, the light extraction efficiency of planar, white organic light-emitting diodes where the Al cathode is patterned with the graded superlattice with dual basis. Two graded super-lattices with four-fold and two-fold symmetries are used to pattern the Al cathode. The decrease in power losses to surface plasmon and waveguide modes is explained by the varying plasmon path length and grating cycle, respectively, in the graded pattern. To the authors' best knowledge, the highest light extraction efficiency of 73.1% into the glass substrate in organic light-emitting diodes has been predicted through simulations.

High light extraction efficiency into glass substrate in organic light-emitting diodes by patterning the cathode in graded superlattice with dual periodicity and dual basis

Light-trapping enhancement in newly discovered graded photonic super-crystals (GPSCs) with dual periodicity and dual basis is herein explored for the first time. Broadband, wide-incident-angle, and polarization-independent light-trapping enhancement was achieved in silicon solar cells patterned with these GPSCs. These super-crystals were designed by multi-beam interference, rendering them flexible and efficient. The optical response of the patterned silicon solar cell retained Bloch-mode resonance; however, light absorption was greatly enhanced in broadband wavelengths due to the graded, complex unit super-cell nanostructures, leading to the overlap of Bloch-mode resonances. The broadband, wide-angle light coupling and trapping enhancement mechanism are understood to be due to the spatial variance of the index of refraction, and this spatial variance is due to the varying filling fraction, the dual basis, and the varying lattice constants in different directions.

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Extraordinary Light-Trapping Enhancement in Silicon Solar Cell Patterned with Graded Photonic Super-Crystals

Recently developed graded photonic super-crystals show an enhanced light absorption and light extraction efficiency if they are integrated with a solar cell and an organic light emitting device, respectively. In this paper, we present the holographic fabrication of a graded photonic super-crystal with a rectangular unit super-cell. The spatial light modulator-based pixel-by-pixel phase engineering of the incident laser beam provides a high resolution phase pattern for interference lithography. This also provides a flexible design for the graded photonic super-crystals with a different ratio of length over the width of the rectangular unit super-cell. The light extraction efficiency is simulated for the organic light emitting device, where the cathode is patterned with the graded photonic super-crystal. The high extraction efficiency is maintained for different exposure thresholds during the interference lithography. The desired polarization effects are observed for certain exposure thresholds. The extraction efficiency reaches as high as 75% in the glass substrate.

https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/5/4/34/pdf

Safaa Hassan

Papers

Holographic fabrication of graded photonic super-crystals using an integrated spatial light modulator and reflective optical element laser projection system

Holographic fabrication of graded photonic super-quasi-crystals with multiple-level gradients.

High light extraction efficiency into glass substrate in organic light-emitting diodes by patterning the cathode in graded superlattice with dual periodicity and dual basis

Extraordinary Light-Trapping Enhancement in Silicon Solar Cell Patterned with Graded Photonic Super-Crystals

Holographic Fabrication and Optical Property of Graded Photonic Super-Crystals with a Rectangular Unit Super-Cell