Speaker
Prof.
Pandurang Ashrit
(Université de MOncton)
Description
Transition metal oxides (TMO) with their metastable multiple oxidation states offer a wide range of optical and electrical switching properties. Chromogenic materials are characterized by their ability to undergo a reversible change in their optical properties under the application of a small external force in the form of heat, light or an electric field. Hence, TMO based chromogenic materials and devices have become the object of an intense research ,lately, in photonics and communications area. Through a small activation energy applied in different forms, one can drive these systems from one metastable state to another with large variation in their optical and electrical properties. By preparing these materials in thin film form, interactive optical (transmittance, reflectance and absorption) and electrical switching devices with facile operation can be constructed with a highly versatile control of these properties. In addition, these switching properties are found to depend extremely sensitively on the film nanostructure. Much of the present work in this area is focussed on the methodology of a controlled inducing of the nanostructure in these films and their devices to increase their switching contrast. Hence, these materials are of immense importance both from the underlying physics and chemistry point of view as well as from the application point of view. A review of the state of development of this field in terms of the physics of these materials and their development towards application in photonics and communications will be presented. The work being carried out in our Thin Films and Photonics Research Group (GCMP) laboratories at Université de Moncton will also be discussed.
Primary author
Prof.
Pandurang Ashrit
(Université de MOncton)
