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Low‐Loss Organic Hyperbolic Materials in the Visible Spectral Range: A Joint Experimental and First‐Principles Study
Author(s) -
Lee Yeon Ui,
Yim Kanghoon,
Bopp Steven Edward,
Zhao Junxiang,
Liu Zhaowei
Publication year - 2020
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.202002387
Subject(s) - materials science , crystallinity , optoelectronics , range (aeronautics) , thiophene , alkyl , optics , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics
Hyperbolic media strengthen numerous attractive applications in optics such as super‐resolution imaging, enhanced spontaneous emission, and nanoscale waveguiding. Natural hyperbolic materials exist at visible frequencies; however, implementations of these materials suffer substantial compromises resulting from the high loss in the currently available candidates. Here, the first experimental and theoretical investigation of regioregular poly(3‐alkylthiophenes) (rr‐P3ATs), a naturally low‐loss organic hyperbolic material (OHM) in the visible frequency range, is shown. These hyperbolic properties arise from a highly ordered structure of layered electron‐rich conjugated thiophene ring backbones separated by insulating alkyl side chains. The optical and electronic properties of the rr‐P3AT can be tuned by controlling the degree of crystallinity and alkyl side chain length. First‐principles calculations support the experimental observations, which result from the rr‐P3AT's structural and optical anisotropy. Conveniently, rr‐P3AT‐based OHMs are facile to fabricate, flexible, and biocompatible, which may lead to tremendous new opportunities in a wide range of applications.