POLYMERS Vol.59　No.5 May 2010
POLYMERS　Vol.59　No.5
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COVER STORY
Polymer Photonics
Growing Polymers: A Personal Account
The Potential Applications of Complex Fluids Tatsushi ISOJIIMA
<Abstract> The complex fluids are promising research tools for the development of new materials.
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Dig for Your Fortune! Daisuke TAKEUCHI
<Abstract> When I was a graduate student, the professor often told me “Dig for your fortune”. Now I realize that it meant “Find interesting results using an original idea”.
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COVER STORY: Highlight Reviews
Electro-Optic Polymer for Ultra-Fast Optical Modulation Shiyoshi YOKOYAMA, Xianqing PIAO, and Akira OTOMO
<Abstract> Recently, there is a growing interest in organic electro-optic (EO) materials for use in telecommunication, digital signal processing, and many other applications as active materials in photonic nano-micro devices. This trend of increasing attention in EO materials continues through the development of a significantly high EO coefficient higher than 100 pm/V at telecommunication wavelengths. In this paper, we introduce a recent development of EO polymers, which are expected to achieve ultra-fast optical modulator and optical switching devices. EO polymers shown in this study are traditional host-guest PMMA, side-chain polymers, and hyper-branched polymers. Especially, hyper-branched polymers resulted in larger electro-optical activity due to the high density of their nonlinear optical chromophore and high order of electro poling efficiency. EO polymers are explored for the use as polymer optical modulators that demonstrated fast data transfer up to 100 Gbs, which is much higher than previous inorganic devices. Furthermore, polymer devices work with very low electric power, promising wide applications in future optical telecommunications technology.
Keywords: Electro-Optic / EO Polymer / Nonlinear Optics / Chromophore / Hyperbranched Polymer / Host-guest Polymer / Optical Modulator
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Electro-Optic Polymer Modulators Yasufumi ENAMI
<Abstract> An electro-optic (EO) polymer is the most suitable material for an EO modulator device due to its low refractive index dispersion and high EO coefficient. I introduce latest research results in the field of the polymeric modulators, which would be the most powerful devices to reduce the consumption of energy with maintaining the advantage of modulation speed when the EO polymer is hybridized and integrated.
Keywords: Electro-Optic Polymers / Modulators / Hybrid and Integration / High Speed Modulation
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Development of Optical and Photonics Devices by Use of Nano Structure Controlled Materials Toshiyuki WATANABE
<Abstract> In this review, new developments of photonics devices based on nano structure controlled materials are introduced.
The advantage and mechanism of two-photon initiated polymerization are reviewed and its application to diffractive optical elements and micro optics is demonstrated. Thermo-reversible on-off switching of fluorescent images (TRF) was achieved by use of nano-structure controlled materials induced by heat treatment. The application of TRF to multilayer recording systems was illustrated.
Keywords: Two-photon Excitation / Two-photon Initiated Polymerization / Photopolymerization / Micro Optics / Reversible on-off Switching of Fluorescent Image
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Progress towards an In-Vehicle Optical Network and Polymer Optical Device Application Manabu KAGAMI
<Abstract> The changeover to optic fiber communication started with wider bandwidth of an in-vehicle network being used in the information system of European vehicles. In order to promote its spread to more parts of the world, the cost reduction of not only optical components but also optic fiber communication systems and the international standardization, which backs it, are important. This report will show that the approach to these two subjects is achieved and expectations for the polymer optical device being regarded as the favorite of low cost efficiency are emerging.
Keywords: In-Vehicle Optical Network / Optical Fiber / Polymer Waveguide / Optical Soldering / Self-Written Waveguide / Standardization
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COVER STORY:Topics and Products
Long Length and Fine Pitch Optical Waveguide Made by Photo-Addressing Method Makoto FUJIWARA
<Abstract> We developed a polynorbornene optical waveguide with high optically transparency, high glass transition temperature, and a fabrication process using a simple pattering process, known as “Photo-addressing”. In the process, only UV irradiation through a photo mask over photosensitive dry film is employed to form a long length and fine pitch optical waveguide.
Keywords: Polynorbornene / Optical Waveguide / Photo-Addressing
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Photorefractive Materials Takeo SASAKI
<Abstract> The photorefractive effect is defined as the optical modulation of the refractive index of a medium as a result of a number of processes. The interference of two laser beams in a photorefractive material establishes a refractive index grating. This phenomenon enables us to create various types of photonic applications.
Keywords: Photorefractive Effect / Hologram / 3D-display / Photoconductive Polymers / DπA Polymers
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Fabrication of Photonic Crystals Using Block Copolymers Shigeru OKAMOTO
<Abstract> We have succeeded in the fabrication of highly ordered microdomain structures induced by a “differentiating non-solvent” in semi-dilute solutions of ultra-high-molecular weight block copolymers. In the vicinity of the phase boundary of order-disorder transition, large grains with the size in the range of a centimeter are formed and successfully applied to non-linear optical devices.
Keywords: Block Copolymer / Photonic Crystal / Non-Linear Optical Property
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Flexible Organic Electronic and Optical Integrated Devices Yutaka OHMORI
<Abstract> Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and photo-detectors (OPDs) are discussed for electro-optical integrated devices with optical signal transmission. OLEDs are used as optical signal generators through polymeric optical fibers, and OPDs are used as receivers. Polymeric materials are discussed for OLEDs and OPDs with high speed operation.
Keywords: Organic Light Emitting Diodes / Organic Photo Detectors / Polymeric Waveguides / Optical Integrated Devices / Polymeric Optical Fibers / Conducting Polymers / Polyfluorene Derivatives / Fullerene Derivatives
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Polymer Colloidal Photonic Crystal Laser Seiichi FURUMI
<Abstract> A brief review of recent research progress in the use of colloidal crystals (CCs) as photonics crystals is presented. This review highlights not only interesting precedents of the CC researches, but also a new potential use for polymer CC lasers.
Keywords: Polymer / Photonic Crystal / Colloidal Crystal / Laser
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Front-Line Polymer Science
Recent Development in Functional Electrospun Nanofibers Hiroyoshi KAWAKAMI
<Abstract> Nano-scale fibers prepared through an electrically charged jet of a polymer solution/melt (electrospining) have received a lot of attention. Electrospinning is capable of producing fibers with diameters in a nanometer range. The electrospun nanofibers possess many unique properties including a large specific surface area, a high degree of structural perfection, and superior mechanical properties. The nanofibers have been successfully prepared for many applications, such as filters, optical and chemical sensors, catalyst systems, scaffolds for tissue regeneration, and immobilized enzymes. In addition, many approaches have been developed to obtain uniaxially aligned electrospun nanofibrous structures using specially designed collectors or spinnerets, such as a rotating drum, dual grounded collection plates, two oppositely aligned spinnerets, and parallel auxiliary electrodes. We describe here recent progress in the electrospun nanofiber applications.
Keywords: Nanofiber / Electrospinning / Surface Area / Collector / Sensors / Filters / Conductivity
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