PLASMONIC ENHANCEMENT OF MATERIAL PROPERTIES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A plasmonic structure comprising:
- a substrate;
an electrically conductive film disposed on the substrate, the film defining an outer face, the film also defining at least one nanoslit extending through at least a portion of the thickness of the film, the nanonslit defining opposing sidewalls; and
an effective amount of an electrochromic material disposed on the sidewalls of the nanoslit.
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Abstract
Various plasmonic structures in the form of electrochromic optical switches are described which exhibit relatively high optical switching contrast. The switches generally include a collection of nanoslits formed in a thin electrically conductive film. An electrochromic material is disposed on the conductive film and along the sidewalls of the nanoslit(s).
11 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A plasmonic structure comprising:
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a substrate; an electrically conductive film disposed on the substrate, the film defining an outer face, the film also defining at least one nanoslit extending through at least a portion of the thickness of the film, the nanonslit defining opposing sidewalls; and an effective amount of an electrochromic material disposed on the sidewalls of the nanoslit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electrochromic device comprising:
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a fluid medium in the form of an electrolyte; a plurality of plasmonic structures, each plasmonic structure including (i) a substrate, (ii) an electrically conductive film disposed on the substrate, the film defining an outer face and at least one nanoslit extending through at least a portion of the thickness of the film, the nanoslit defining opposing sidewalls, and (iii) an effective amount of an electrochromic material disposed on the sidewalls of the nanoslit; wherein each of the plurality of plasmonic structures are exposed to, and in contact with, the fluid medium along the outer face and within the nanoslit of the plasmonic structure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A plasmonic electrochromic optical switch comprising:
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a substrate; a layer of an electrically conductive material disposed on the substrate, the layer of electrically conductive material defining a top face, the layer of electrically conductive material selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, aluminum, indium tin oxide, and combinations thereof; at least one nanoslit defined in the layer of electrically conductive material, the nanoslit extending through at least a portion of the thickness of the electrically conductive material, the nanoslit defining opposing sidewalls; a layer of an electrochromic polymer disposed on the top face of the electrically conductive material and on the nanoslit sidewalls; an electrolyte in contact with the layer of the electrochromic polymer and disposed between the opposing sidewalls of the nanoslit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of improving performance of a plasmonic device utilizing an electrically conductive film disposed on a substrate, the method comprising:
incorporating an effective amount of an electrochromic material in the plasmonic device. - View Dependent Claims (24)
Specification