Refractive Index Engineering of Nano-Polymer Composites
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Refractive Index Engineering of Nano-Polymer Composites Nobuyuki Kambe*, Sujeet Kumar*, Shiv Chiruvolu*, Benjamin Chaloner-Gill*, Yigal D. Blum**, D. Brent MacQueen**, and Gregory W. Faris** *NanoGram Corporation, Fremont, CA 94538, U.S.A. **SRI International, Chemical Science and Technology Lab, Menlo Park, CA 94025, U.S.A. ABSTRACT Highly homogeneous nanoparticles-polymer composite materials are being developed to meet high demands of photonic materials covering a broad range of the refractive index. Refractive index engineering can be achieved by controlling loading level of metal-oxide nanoparticles within an organic host material. The uniformity and small size of nanoparticles are critical to maintain a low level of light scattering, particularly in the visible to infrared regions. First observations of index variation for these nanoparticle-polymer composites to our knowledge are presented. INTRODUCTION The nanocomposites discussed in this paper are rather novel material systems. They comprise inorganic nanoparticles and organic polymers that are chemically bonded to each other. The use of previously-prepared nanoparticles to form nanocomposites is unique because highquality nanoparticles had not been available commercially until recently [1]. Availability of multiple types of nanoparticles has allowed tremendous increase in potential combinations between nanoparticles and polymers. Previously only a limited number of polymer media have been utilized due to synthetic processing limitations [2]. High-quality nanoparticles are vital for the generation of homogeneously mixed nanoparticle-polymer composites. NanoGram has developed a capability to produce a broad array of nano-particulate materials, including metal-oxides/ carbides/ nitrides/ sulfides, metals and transition metals, and carbons in high volume and narrow size distribution. Complex systems of ternary and quaternary compounds have also been made. In addition, uniformity of NanoGramTM materials is unparalleled [3]. One immediate benefit from the discussed approach to nanoparticle-polymer composites is the ability to control physical properties such as photonic or electronic parameters over a wide range. To demonstrate this benefit, we have studied the photonic properties of nano-polymer composites. In particular, the refractive index, which determines the propagation of light interacting with a material or device structure is being studied as a function of our synthesis parameters. This paper presents the first optical observations from newly synthesized nanocomposites. Nano-TiO2-based polymer composites are the focus of the study in attempt to obtain high refractive index materials. Structural and optical properties of individual nano-TiO2 particles are also described to show correlations between nanoparticles and subsequent nanocomposites.
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Refractive index engineering Controlled management of the refractive index (n) is vital for photonic device applications. Refractive index engineering is defined here as formation of desired refractive in
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