Premium
Electrochromic Infrared Light Modulation in Optical Waveguides
Author(s) -
Kim Jin Tae,
Song Juhee,
Ryu Hojun,
Ah Chil Seong
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced optical materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 91
ISSN - 2195-1071
DOI - 10.1002/adom.201901464
Subject(s) - materials science , optoelectronics , waveguide , electrochromism , modulation (music) , planar , optics , infrared , photonics , optical modulator , extinction ratio , optical switch , optical transistor , attenuation , voltage , electrode , phase modulation , computer science , wavelength , electrical engineering , transistor , physics , phase noise , quantum mechanics , acoustics , engineering , computer graphics (images)
Electrochromic materials and devices have attracted much attention with their ability to tune the transmissions of visible to infrared (IR) light, allowing the creation of smart windows. This study presents a novel electrochromic device (ECD)‐based photonic device that can modulate IR light intensity in a planar optical waveguide ECD. To configure it, a multilayer ECD made of WO 3 is integrated on a polymer optical waveguide platform. By using the waveguide to change the optical properties of the ECD electrically, IR light propagating along the optical waveguide core undergoes electroabsorption loss due to the change in charge carrier density in WO 3 layer and its intensity is modulated with an extinction depth of 0.6 dB mm −1 . Experimental results show that the device is capable of discrete intensity attenuation by applying a distinct level gate voltage. Periodic application of gate voltage leads the device to serve as an optical modulator on the order of subseconds. The results also confirm that a new approach to consider ECD‐based optical modulators can pave the way for the development of planar photonic‐integrated circuits and systems.