Principal Investigator Yoel Fink
A conceptual framework for creating photonic crystals from self-assembling block copolymers has been formulated. In order to form useful band gaps in the visible regime, periodic dielectric structures made of typical block copolymers need to be modified to obtain appropriate characteristic distances and dielectric constants. Moreover, the absorption and defect concentration must also be controlled. This affords the opportunity to tap into the large structural repertoire, the flexibility and intrinsic tunability that these self-assembled block copolymer systems offer.
The objectives of this project will be to anionically synthesize high molecular weight block copolymers, to explore methods of increasing the dielectric contrast in these systems by incorporating semiconductor nanometer size crystals. We will also study the possibility of using block copolymers as a core material in optical fibers.