Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) exhibits unusual optical properties that make it of interest for hierarchical optical
encryption in nanostructured films. The color-travel phenomenon of iridescence is exhibited by NCC when cast as a film
from chiral nematic aqueous phase suspensions of the nanocrystals. “Iridescence by self-assembly” has potential for
overt encryption as an anti-counterfeiting measure. It also offers an intrinsic level of covert encryption by reflecting leftcircularly
polarized light. We show that addition of a UV sensitive dye adds another level of (covert) encryption, and
that specially prepared films manifest a rare form of optical non-reciprocity that does not require the application of an
external field. Chirality parameters and stokes vector analyses suggest a simple authentication scheme. The method uses
a UV light source and a circular polarizer in conjunction with an iridescent feature that can be verified by the eye or by
chiral spectrometry.
Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) solid films derived from spruce pulp exhibit iridescence when cast from chiral nematic aqueous phase suspensions of the nanocrystals. The iridescence has potential for overt encryption as an anti-counterfeiting measure and also offers an intrinsic level of covert encryption since films of NCC reflect left-circularly polarized light. Addition of TINOPAL, an optical brightening agent (OBA), adds a third level of (covert) encryption potential since the chromophore exhibits strong fluorescence when excited with ultraviolet (UV) light. The overall result is a selectively polarizing fluorescent iridescent film. We examined the impact of additions of OBA on NCC iridescence, optical activity, and physical structure variation with polarized optical microscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectropolarimetry, and zeta potential analysis. Increasing OBA additions increase the chiral nematic pitch of NCC films and alter chiral nematic domain structure in the solid film. Under low-concentration conditions, OBA yields intense UV fluorescence without compromising the visible light iridescent properties of the film. The potential security offered by the NCC film can be authenticated using a UV light source, a circular polarizer in conjunction with an iridescent feature that can be verified by the eye or by chiral spectrometry.
Nanocrystalline cellulose solid films derived from spruce pulp exhibit iridescence when cast from chiral nematic
aqueous phase suspensions of the nanocrystals. Iridescence is a color travel phenomenon that might have potential for
overt encryption as an anti-counterfeiting measure. The iridescent phase also offers an intrinsic level of covert
encryption by virtue of the fact that films of NCC reflect left-circularly polarized light. Addition of TINOPAL, an
optical brightening agent (OBA), adds a third level of (covert) encryption potential since the chromophore exhibits
strong fluorescence when excited at ultra-violet wavelengths. The overall result is a selectively polarizing fluorescent
iridescent film. We study the impact of additions of OBA on NCC iridescence, optical activity, and physical structure
variation with polarized optical microscopy, circular dichroism spectropolarimetry and zeta potential analysis. Increasing
OBA additions increase the chiral nematic pitch of NCC films, and this in turn alters chiral nematic domain structure in
the solid film. Under low concentration conditions defined by our experiments, OBA yields intense UV fluorescence,
without compromising the visible light iridescent properties of the film. The potential security offered by NCC and its
optical responses can be authenticated using a UV light source such as is commonly used for banknote verification, a
circular polarizer in conjunction with an iridescent feature which can be verified by the eye or by chiral spectrometry.
Evidence is emerging that silica-containing plant cells (phytoliths) and single cell micro-organisms (diatoms) exhibit
optical properties reminiscent of photonic crystals. In the latter biosilicates, these properties appear to arise from light
interactions with the intricate periodic patterns of micro- and nano-pores called foramina that are distributed over the
frustule (outer silica shell). In this report, we show that Nitzschia Closterium pennate diatom frustules can be used to
template arrays of nanoplasmonic particles to confer more complex physical properties, as shown by simulation and
experiment. Selective templating of silver and gold nanoparticles in and around the array of pores was achieved by
topochemical functionalization with nanoparticles deposited from solution, or by differential wetting/dewetting of
evaporated gold films. The nanoplasmonic diatom frustules exhibit surface enhanced Raman scattering from
chemisorbed 4-aminothiophenol. Thermally induced dewetting of gold films deposited on a frustule produces two
classes of faceted gold nanoparticles. Larger particles of irregular shape are distributed with some degree of uniaxial
anisotropy on the surface of the frustule. Smaller particles of more uniform size are deposited in a periodic manner in the
frustule pores. It is thought that surface curvature and defects drive the hydrodynamic dewetting events that give rise to
the different classes of nanoparticles. Finite difference time domain calculations on an idealized nanoplasmonic frustule
suggest a complex electromagnetic field response due to coupling between localized surface plasmon modes of the
nanoparticles in the foramina and an overlayer gold film.
Liquid crystal alignment is a crucial step in display manufacture. Photo-alignment of liquid crystal media figures among
several non-contact methods under study as potential alternatives to mechanical rubbing of polymer films. Obliquely
deposited silica has also been studied as an alignment surface. We report initial studies on a non-contact approach that
combines the advantages of both polymers and silica in a photosensitive spin-on type hybrid organic-inorganic glass
film. We have discovered a form of nonresonant photo-induced anisotropy (PIA) in these glasses that will align nematic
4-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) liquid crystal. Optical self-writing with polarized guided waves in the glasses produces
birefringence that can be "read out" by waveguide Raman scattering. 5CB spontaneously orders on the waveguides and
indicates that PIA in the self-written glasses propagates to the surface of the film. PIA with polarized light at 488 nm
also orients 5CB in a conventional twist cell fabricated from hybrid glasses derived from acrylates and arenes covalently
bound to silicon. Electro-optic measurements on the hybrid glasses yield liquid crystal EO parameters that depend in
complex ways on PIA, the chemical composition of the glass and the processing conditions of the films.
Nano Crystalline Cellulose (NCC) in aqueous suspension gives rise to anisotropic order that leads to iridescence from
the fluid phase. Phase separation and order formation were studied using polarized optical microscopy and laser
diffraction. Factors affecting liquid crystal phase separation, such as hydrolysis time, wood pulp species, sonication
are discussed. Long range order and a physical grating structure are important to produce iridescence in the bulk fluid
liquid crystal phase Stereomicroscopy showed that retardation lines propagate through the bulk of the fluid. Laser
diffraction light experiments reveal features of the time evolution of the bulk grating. The grating structure may be
used as tool to cast a chiral iridescence grating for security applications.
Neural microelectrodes are an important component of neural prosthetic systems which assist paralyzed patients by
allowing them to operate computers or robots using their neural activity. These microelectrodes are also used in clinical
settings to localize the locus of seizure initiation in epilepsy or to stimulate sub-cortical structures in patients with
Parkinson's disease. In neural prosthetic systems, implanted microelectrodes record the electrical potential generated by
specific thoughts and relay the signals to algorithms trained to interpret these thoughts. In this paper, we describe novel
elongated multi-site neural electrodes that can record electrical signals and specific neural biomarkers and that can reach
depths greater than 8mm in the sulcus of non-human primates (monkeys). We hypothesize that additional signals
recorded by the multimodal probes will increase the information yield when compared to standard probes that record just
electropotentials. We describe integration of optical biochemical sensors with neural microelectrodes. The sensors are
made using sol-gel derived xerogel thin films that encapsulate specific biomarker responsive luminophores in their
nanostructured pores. The desired neural biomarkers are O2, pH, K+, and Na+ ions. As a prototype, we demonstrate
direct-write patterning to create oxygen-responsive xerogel waveguide structures on the neural microelectrodes. The
recording of neural biomarkers along with electrical activity could help the development of intelligent and more userfriendly
neural prosthesis/brain machine interfaces as well as aid in providing answers to complex brain diseases and
disorders.
A photosensitive terpolymeric composition suitable for practical waveguide devices is provided. The terpolymer was
produced from pentafluorostyrene (PFS), perfluoro-n-octyl acrylate (PFOA), and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). We
present a fabrication process where the device structure utilizes the same class of material for the core and cladding
layers and it was fabricated without a plasma etching process. We also present simulation results that show good
agreement with measured data and which thus permit to optimize the device performance. Based on the developed
material and process; a 16-channel arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) multiplexer with excellent performance has been
realized. The channel spacing of the multiplexer is 0.8 nm and operating around the 1550 nm wavelength. Together the
developed material and process combine to produce AWG with an average insertion loss of 5 dB, the best channel shows
an insertion loss of 4.7 dB; the uniformity of 1 dB, a crosstalk of less than -28 dB and a polarization dependence loss
(PDL) of ~ 0.2 dB. During temperature cycling, a slight thickness hysteresis and refractive index hysteresis were
observed above the glass transition temperature and is ascribed to the fact that the terpolymer material may not
completely recover its elasticity in the heating/cooling cycle.
We report the development of a novel methodology for patterning of nanostructured sensory materials using multi-dimensional
microstructured support platforms for optical bioimaging applications. Specifically, the support platforms
are fabricated using direct-write technique and sol-gel derived xerogel thin-films to form the sensor materials. This
creates a simple and versatile method for developing complex 3-D microstructures that have the combined capabilities of
biochemical sensing, microfluidic sample distribution for sensor arrays, and direct integration with Complimentary
Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Integrated Circuits (ICs) used for sensor signal detection and processing. More
importantly, this methodology would enable the development of large-scale arrayed sensing platforms for applications in
cell-culture analysis and tissue imaging. The configuration and fabrication of the proposed microstructures, which
consist of planar ridge and hollow waveguides, will be described in detail. As a prototype implementation, we
demonstrate direct-write ridge waveguide support structures coated with luminophore-doped xerogels that are responsive
to gaseous oxygen (O2) concentration.
Photoresponsive nanocomposite organically modified silica films were prepared by solution sol-gel processing of
organo-silicon alkoxide compounds. Waveguiding at 488 and 514.5 nm proceeded with simultaneous self-inscription
and self-focusing. Light Induced self inscribed (LISI) waveguides were revealed by wet etching. Under certain
conditions, self-inscription exhibited optical beating or became chaotic, and filamentation was observed. Composite
waveguides of nanoplasmonic particles and rare earth doped nanoparticles were written by LISI.
Orientation anisotropies in structural properties relevant to the use of cellulosic polymers as membranes for lab-on-chips
were investigated for cellulose acetate (CA) and regenerated cellulose (RC) films deposited as slab waveguides.
Anisotropy was probed with mode and polarization state selected guided wave Raman spectroscopy. CA exhibits partial
chain orientation in the plane of the film, and this orientation is independent of sample substrate and film preparation
conditions. RC films also show in-plane anisotropy, where the hexose sugar rings lie roughly in the plane of the film.
Explanations are given of the role of artifacts in interpreting waveguide Raman spectra, including anomalous
contributions to Raman spectra that arise from deviations from right angle scattering geometry, mode-dependent
contributions to longitudinal electric field components and TE↔TM mode conversion. We explore diffusion profiles of
small molecules in cellulosic films by adaptations of an inverse-Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (iWKB) recursive, noninteger
virtual mode index algorithm. Perturbations in the refractive index distribution, n(z), are recovered from the
measured relative propagation constants, neffective,m, of the planar waveguide. The refractive index distribution then yields
the diffusion profile.
Photoresponsive nanocomposite organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) films were prepared by solution sol-gel processing of organically modified silicon alkoxide compounds. Waveguiding at 488 nm proceeds with simultaneous self-inscription and permanently inscribed waveguides can be revealed by wet etching. Under certain conditions, self-inscription becomes chaotic, and filamentation is observed. A counterpropagating beam set-up allows simple optical devices like crosses and y-junctions to be created. Soliton-like behavior is exhibited at low laser power where couterpropagating self-inscribed beams undergo mutual trapping. The ORMOSIL films exhibit interesting patterns which may be associated with the relief of stress in the films. These patterns can be controlled to some extent by depositing self-inscribed features in the glassy medium.
Photoresponsive nanocomposite organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) films were prepared by solution sol-gel processing of organically modified silicon alkoxide compounds. Waveguiding at 488 nm proceeds with simultaneous self-inscription and permanently inscribed waveguides can be revealed by wet etching. Under certain conditions, self-inscription becomes chaotic, and filamentation is observed. A counterpropagating beam set-up allows simple optical devices like crosses and y-junctions to be created. Soliton-like behavior is exhibited at low laser power where counterpropagating self-inscribed beams undergo mutual trapping. The ORMOSIL films exhibit interesting patterns which may be associated with the relief of stress in the films. These patterns can be controlled to some extent by depositing self-inscribed features in the glassy medium.
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