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An Optically Responsive Soft Etalon Based on Ultrathin Cellulose Hydrogels
Author(s) -
Dong Yue,
Akinoglu Eser Metin,
Zhang Heyou,
Maasoumi Fatemeh,
Zhou Jinping,
Mulvaney Paul
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201904290
Subject(s) - materials science , fabry–pérot interferometer , self healing hydrogels , optoelectronics , cellulose , refractive index , wavelength , optics , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , physics , engineering
Stimuli‐responsive optical etalons are an exciting class of next‐generation sensors because they are scalable, cost‐effective and offer tunability of their optical response across the entire UV–vis–NIR wavelength range. In this study, double‐network cellulose hydrogels are used as a soft, responsive medium and are incorporated into Fabry–Pérot optical etalons. The thin cellulose hydrogel layer can be solution processed. The hygroscopic hydrogel undergoes both refractive index and thickness changes in response to changes in humidity. This leads to strong changes in reflection due to optical interference within the metal–insulator–metal (MIM) cavity. The response can be optimized by adjusting the chemical crosslinker ratio. These flexible MIM structures provide a robust platform for optically based chemical sensors.