Organic Electro-Optics and Photonics

Abstract

This definitive guide to modern organic electro-optic and photonic technologies provides critical insight into recent advances in organic electro-optic materials, from the underlying quantum and statistical concepts through to the practical application of materials in modern devices and systems. • Introduces theoretical and experimental methods for improving organic electro-optic and photonic technologies • Reviews the central concepts of nonlinear optics, focusing on multi-scale theoretical methods • Provides clear insight into the structure and function relationships critical to optimizing the performance of devices based on organic electro-optic materials. Serving as a primer for the systematic nano-engineering of soft matter materials, this is an invaluable resource for those involved in the development of modern telecommunication, computing, and sensing technologies depending on electro-optic technology. It is also an indispensable work of reference for academic researchers and graduate students in the fields of chemistry, physics, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, and chemical engineering.

Silicon-Organic Hybrid (SOH) and Plasmonic-Organic Hybrid (POH) Integration

“…Currently, in most material systems, less than 15 % of the EO activity inherent in the chromophores is translated to macroscopic EO effects by poling, and the poling efficiency depends on the poling configuration. Improved quantum and statistical mechanical (multiscale) theoretical methods [54] - [59] have led to new classes of organic EO materials and to systematic improvements of the poling efficiency, enabling macroscopic EO coefficients r 33 in excess of 500 pm/V in thin films [54], [55]. Theoretical calculations also suggest that new chromophores with significantly improved molecular first-order hyperpolarizability are possible [54], which may even lead to EO coefficients r 33 in excess of 1000 pm/V, thereby enabling SOH modulators with π-voltages of less than 100 mV.…”

“…Besides improving of EO coefficients, systematic investigation and optimization of thermal and photochemical stability of EO cladding materials is subject of ongoing research. Thermal stability is defined by lattice hardness and usually quantified by the glass transition temperature T g of the material [55]. A glass transition temperature of T g = 150°C is adequate to satisfy Telcordia standards, and such temperatures are easily achieved by crosslinking chemistry, for which values of T g = 200°C are routinely obtained [55].…”

Silicon-Organic Hybrid Electro-Optical Devices

“…fabrication steps can rely on high-yield processes based on CMOS fabrication technology of an SOI wafer and the functional organic material can subsequently be deposited onto the wafer. Typical organic cladding materials vary from highly nonlinear χ (3) oligomers such as DDMEBT [13] for efficient fourwave mixing [8], to highly-nonlinear χ (2) chromophores [14], [15] for high-speed modulation [16] and difference-frequency generation [17], to polymer-dispersed dyes for optically pumped lasers [18], [19], to liquid-crystals for low-voltage phase-shifters [20].…”

“…When considering quasi-TE modes, the discontinuity of the refractive index leads to a discontinuity of the electric field, an effect which is known as "field-enhancement" [2] and improves the optical interaction between the optical mode and the cladding. Additionally, the SOH concept allows the user to freely choose the cladding among the immense variety of available organic molecules, many of which have been developed and optimized for longer than a decade [13]- [15].…”

From silicon-organic hybrid to plasmonic modulation

“…The latter is deposited onto the wafer after all silicon-on-insulator processing steps have been completed. Typical organic cladding materials are nonlinear (2) chromophores [2,6] or organic crystals [7] for highspeed modulation or liquid-crystals for low-voltage phase-modulation [8]. [9].…”