High Index of Refraction Materials for Printed Applications

ABSTRACT: Using roll-to-roll (R2R) -compatible inkjet-print (IJP) deposition and nanoimprint (NI) photolithographic patterning methods, a series of passive and electro-optic (EO) -modulated waveguide structures will be fabricated and characterized. The measured data will be compared to modeled results and the information will be used to improve device designs. Modeling will also be used to demonstrate new photonic device structures enabled by the micro-scale placement and highly-tuned optical inks. Concomitant with the process development, the performance capabilities of the optical inks will be enhanced with larger refractive indices, and extended to include inks exhibiting large EO coefficients. BENEFIT: Markets benefiting from the innovation include: low-profile cell phone camera lenses, smart glasses, solar concentrators, eye glasses & ophthalmic goods, night vision goggle lenses, 3D LED films, microlens arrays, 3D imaging, CMOS photonics & optical backplanes, endoscopy & medical optical instrumentation, and military optics.