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Uncovering the Circular Polarization Potential of Chiral Photonic Cellulose Films for Photonic Applications
Author(s) -
Zheng Hongzhi,
Li Wanru,
Li Wen,
Wang Xiaojun,
Tang Zhiyong,
Zhang Sean XiaoAn,
Xu Yan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201705948
Subject(s) - materials science , photonics , cellulose , circular polarization , polarization (electrochemistry) , nanoscopic scale , optoelectronics , photonic metamaterial , nanotechnology , photonic crystal , optics , chemical engineering , chemistry , physics , microstrip , engineering
Circularly polarized light (CPL) is central to photonic technologies. A key challenge lies in developing a general route for generation of CPL with tailored chiroptical activity using low‐cost raw materials suitable for scale‐up. This study presents that cellulose films with photonic bandgaps (PBG) and left‐handed helical sense have an intrinsic ability for circular polarization leading to PBG‐based CPL with extraordinary | g | values, well‐defiend handedness, and tailorable wavelength by the PBG change. Using such cellulose films, incident light ranging from near‐UV to near‐IR can be transformed to passive L‐CPL and R‐CPL with viewing‐side‐dependent handedness and | g | values up to 0.87, and spontaneous emission transformed to R‐CPL emission with | g | values up to 0.68. Unprecedented evidence is presented with theoretical underpinning that the PBG effect can stimulate the R‐CPL emission. The potential of cellulose‐based CPL films for polarization‐based encryption is illustrated. The evaporation‐induced self‐assembly coupled with nanoscale mesogens of cellulose nanocrystals opens new venues for technological advances and enables a versatile strategy for rational design and scalable manufacturing of organic and inorganic CPL films for photonic applications.