Low-Loss Organic Hyperbolic Materials in the Visible Spectral Range: A Joint Experimental and First-Principles Study |
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Authors: | Yeon Ui Lee Kanghoon Yim Steven Edward Bopp Junxiang Zhao Zhaowei Liu |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093 USA;2. Platform Technology Laboratory, Korea Institute of Energy Research, 152 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34129 Republic of Korea;3. Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093 USA |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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Keywords: | low-loss materials metamaterials organic hyperbolic materials poly(3-alkylthiophenes) |
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