Shape memory polymer-based tunable photonic device

摘要

A photonic device is provided having a two or three-dimensionally periodic structure of interconnected members with alterable spacing between the members. The structure is composed of a shape memory polymer configured to be thermo-mechanically tunable to display a plurality of optical properties under a series of temperature changes and stress. A method of producing a photonic device based on a shape memory polymer is provided. A mold, having a two or three-dimensionally periodic structure of interconnected components with a characteristic spacing between the components, is infiltrated with a shape memory polymer precursor to form a composite structure. The composite structure is solidified. The mold is removed from the composite structure to form a photonic device as an inverse replica of the mold.

主权项

1. A method of producing a tunable photonic device, the method comprising:
infiltrating a mold with a shape memory polymer precursor to form a composite structure, the mold having a two or three-dimensionally periodic structure of interconnected components with a characteristic spacing between the components; solidifying the composite structure; removing the mold from the composite structure to form a photonic device having a two or three-dimensionally periodic structure of interconnected members with an alterable spacing between the members, the photonic device being an inverse replica of the mold; filling the alterable spacing between the members in the photonic device with a filling material, the filling material being configured to have a different refractive index than the shape memory polymer precursor; wherein the photonic device is configured to be thermo-mechanically tunable to display a plurality of optical properties, the filling material being configured to vary the plurality of optical properties of the photonic device; after the filling, heating the photonic device in an original shape to a first temperature and deforming under a first stress to produce a first temporary shape; after the heating, cooling the photonic device to a second temperature such that the first temporary shape is fixed; further cooling the photonic device to a third temperature and deforming under a second stress to produce a second temporary shape; wherein the photonic device defines a transition range between the first temperature and the third temperature; and wherein the filling material is configured to have a melting point within the transition range such that the filling material melts within the transition range.