THE Challenge
Achromatic quarter waveplates (A-QWPs), traditionally constructed from multiple birefringent crystals, can modulate light polarization and retardation across a broad range of wavelengths. However, the conventional design of A-QWPs requires the incorporation of multiple birefringent crystals, which complicates the manufacturing process and raises costs. Waveplates made from a single-crystal component face limitations in achieving the desired phase retardation at a specific wavelength, since the amount of phase retardation is directly proportional to the wavelength.
OUR Solution
The Quan lab has designed a broadband A-QWP based on a two-dimensional (2D) layered hybrid copper halide (HCH) perovskite single crystal. The incorporation of organic components in 2D halide perovskites provides a high degree of tunability and programmability in both crystal structure and optical anisotropy. Single crystals of 2D halide perovskites can be synthesized in the solution phase, near room temperature, and at atmospheric pressure, and a large crystal flake can be obtained, which is favorable for fabricating optical waveplates. This facile wet-chemistry synthesis motivates the production of new-generation optical materials with reduced costs, high throughput manufacturing, and improved reproducibility.
Advantages
- Simple and Low-cost manufacturing: HCH perovskite crystals can be easily synthesized at industrial scale using facile wet-chemistry under mild conditions. This enables high-throughput and low-cost manufacturing.
- Single crystal product: HCH perovskite crystals are the first to function as broadband (540–1060 nm) A-QWPS with superior properties, thereby eliminating the need for multiple birefringent crystals in a single A-QWP.
References:
Broadband Achromatic Quarter-Waveplate Using 2D Hybrid Copper Halide Single Crystals | Journal of the American Chemical Society
