PHOTO : Materials - Phase Change Materials for Spatial Light Modulators

Research Topics - PHOTO / Artificial materials for photonics and photovoltaics /  Phase Change Materials

Phase-change materials are materials that reversibly switch between two different structural phases under an external (thermal, electrical, optical) excitation. In the optical domain, this phase change induces a large change in the complex index of refraction, property that can be usefully exploited to implement the actuation of photonic devices. While different materials (VO2, GeSSbTe, liquid crystals, ...) possess these properties, we are particularly interested in solid materials with exhibit such a switching behavior in the visible range.

In this context and in collaboration with the Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, we not only study the properties of spin-transition materials but also investigate methods to engineer them at the micro-/nano-scale to create addressable photonic components. Recently, we have been able to demonstrate the spectral shift of Fabry-Perot-type filters incorporating a thin layer of the Fe(HB(tz)3)2 molecular complex.

Variations (a) of the refractive index and (b) the extinction coefficient of a layer of a spin-transition material as a function of temperature.

 

Collaborations :

Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination (LCC)

 

Projects :

Projet CNRS MITI " Phase Change Materials for Spatial Light Modulators".

 

Related publications :
Y. Zhang, K. Ridier, V. Shalabaeva, I. Séguy, S. Pelloquin, H. Camon, S. Calvez, L. Routaboul, L. Salmon, G. Molnar, and A. Bousseksou, "A molecular spin-crossover film allows for wavelength tuning of the resonance of a Fabry-Perot cavity," J. Mater. Chem. C 8, 8007-8011, 2020.