Premium
Optical modulation using strain tunable metallo‐dielectric films
Author(s) -
Clark J. K.,
Kherani N. P.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
physica status solidi (a)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1862-6319
pISSN - 1862-6300
DOI - 10.1002/pssa.201600756
Subject(s) - materials science , plasmon , thin film , dielectric , optoelectronics , elastomer , transmittance , refractive index , modulation (music) , photonics , surface plasmon , optics , composite material , nanotechnology , philosophy , physics , aesthetics
Significant scientific and technological advances in photonics have facilitated the development of plasmonic and metallo‐dielectric devices that rely on metal thin‐films. Metal based devices, however, are limited by the inability to actively tune the optical properties of metals. Recent work has demonstrated the ability to highly strain metal thin‐films on elastomeric substrates without losing electrical continuity in the film. Herein, we examine the optical properties of metal thin‐films deposited on elastomeric substrates under strain. We demonstrate that reversible modulation of the mechanical structure of the pliable metallo‐dielectric film results in a combination of scattering and surface plasmon excitations, that alter the film transmittance and reflectance. Further, it is shown that control over the wavelength of plasmonic resonances of the film can be achieved through variation in metal film thickness and modification of the local refractive index. The ability to actuate the plasmonic resonances of the metal thin‐films using strain represent a novel method of actively tuning the properties of metal thin‐films and will help facilitate the development of strain‐tunable plasmonic and metallo‐dielectric devices.