Entire Visible Light Spectrum Research Articles

Mechanochromic 3D Soft Photonic Crystals Enabled Anticounterfeiting and Encryption Information Storage

AbstractInspired by the color‐changing abilities of natural organisms, this research focuses on the design and fabrication of mechanochromic liquid crystal photonic crystal thin films with periodic self‐assembly structures. Benefiting from its unique 3D self‐assembled structure with a body‐centered cubic lattice, BP I film exhibits excellent mechanical properties, characterized by superior elasticity and toughness due to the presence of rigid and flexible microdomains and suitable dislocation line volumes. As the strain increases, the structural color of the BP I film demonstrates a repeatable and rapid shift from red to blue, covering the entire visible light spectrum with high reflectivity. The incorporation of fluorescent molecules further enhances the mechanical properties and endowing the film with circularly polarized luminescence under UV light irradiation. Utilizing different fluorescent dyes as inks, arbitrary patterned writing can be performed on the BPI film, enabling specific information hiding and encryption. The prepared label exhibits excellent environmental stability, presenting promising applications in information storage, anti‐counterfeiting, and flexible 3D displays. The study may contribute to a deeper understanding of the relationship between microstructure, mechanical deformation, and optical properties, potentially advancing the development of innovative responsive materials and multifunctional devices.

Histidine-based hybrid perovskites as promising materials for wide wavelength photodetection

Layered 2D hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (2D-HOIPs) exhibit a distinctive array of properties, including remarkable structural flexibility, enhanced resistance to moisture, and optoelectronic characteristics valuable for practical applications. Consequently, these materials are now widely acknowledged as pivotal components in optical and optoelectronic technologies. However, a significant drawback of 2D-HOIPs is their wide band gaps that has hindered their widespread application in optoelectronic devices. In this work we address this limitation by offering a novel series of 2D mixed-halide tin-based HOIPs with general formula (L-HisH)2SnBrxI4−x (where L-His = L-histidine, x = 4, 3.37, 1.70, 0.56, 0.44, and 0) for which the band gap can reach record narrow values, which are not typical for 2D-HOIPs. These compounds can be easily obtained in wide compositional range by implementing halide substitution approach. Each hybrid perovskite features a chiral structure imparted by chiral L-histidinium(+) cations interleaved between corner-shared tin halide octahedra, organized into single-layer thin inorganic slabs. Crucially, these new materials provide a high degree of flexibility in tuning their band gaps throughout the entire visible light spectrum, encompassing a range between 1.82 and 3.05 eV. As a “proof-of-concept”, we created a prototype HOIPs photodetector in which this HOIP was used as an active layer. It is noteworthy that the band gap of pure iodide perovskite is surprisingly narrow for this class of materials. The production of semiconductor materials with a variable width of the optical bandgap is the key to more versatile and diverse applications of these materials in the active components of modern optoelectronic devices. For the obtained prototype, light detection is observed in the wide range covering UV, visible and near-IR regions, marking a record achievement for 2D-HOIPs. Beyond photodetectors, these new histidine-based perovskites hold promise for applications in various other optoelectronic devices, including solar cells, photodiodes, phototransistors, polarized light detectors, and more.

Inhibiting the Appearance of Green Emission in Mixed Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals for Pure Red Emission.

Mixed halide perovskites exhibit promising optoelectronic properties for next-generation light-emitting diodes due to their tunable emission wavelength that covers the entire visible light spectrum. However, these materials suffer from severe phase segregation under continuous illumination, making long-term stability for pure red emission a significant challenge. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of the role of halide oxidation in unbalanced ion migration (I/Br) within CsPbI2Br nanocrystals and thin films. We also introduce a new approach using cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) to encapsulate CsPbI2Br perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs), effectively suppressing ion migration by increasing the corresponding activation energy. Compared with that of unencapsulated samples, we observe a substantial reduction in phase separation under intense illumination in PNCs with a COC coating. Our findings show that COC enhances phase stability by passivating uncoordinated surface defects (Pb2+ and I-), increasing the formation energy of halide vacancies, improving the charge carrier lifetime, and reducing the nonradiative recombination density.

Chromatic Light Therapy for Inhibiting Myopia Progression: Human Studies.

Myopia, a common refractive error, has been associated with various risk factors, but time outdoors has emerged as a significant protective factor against its onset. This association is believed to be mediated by the influence of sunlight on dopamine release, a neurotransmitter crucial for regulating eye growth. Recent research has explored the specific properties of light in order to identify potential interventions for myopia control in children. Low-level red light therapy has gained attention, and has shown promise in inhibiting myopia progression, although there are concerns about safety and rebound effects. Similarly, blue light stimulation aims to upregulate retinal dopamine activity, yet conclusive evidence supporting its efficacy is lacking. Moreover, researchers explored the use of the entire visible light spectrum by digitally imposing longitudinal chromatic aberration to adjust proper eye growth. Preliminary findings suggest that digitally simulated chromatic aberration could potentially serve as a myopia control strategy and highlights the need for further investigation into long-term effects. As research progresses, understanding the efficacy and safety of light-based interventions for myopia control remains crucial for informing clinical practice and optimizing patient outcomes.

Facile hydrothermal synthesis of a multifunctional copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanoparticle-coated sepiolite fiber composite: structural characterization and photocatalytic properties

This work presents a facile hydrothermal synthesis method for fabricating a multifunctional composite of copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanoparticles coated onto sepiolite fibers. Morphological analysis confirms the firm attachment of approximately 10 nm CZTS nanoparticles onto the sepiolite surface. Elemental analysis verifies the presence of constituent elements from both CZTS and sepiolite, with a slight deficiency in Cu and an abundance of Zn observed. The compositional formula of CZTS in the composite is estimated as Cu1.93Zn1.05Sn0.98S4.04. Notably, the material exhibits a narrow band gap of 1.5 eV, enabling effective utilization of the entire visible light spectrum, making it promising for photocatalytic applications. BET nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements reveal a substantial surface area of approximately 85.720 m2 /g, confirming the composite’s versatility and applicability, particularly in photocatalysis and adsorption processes. Additionally, X-ray diffraction analysis indicates reflections consistent with the crystal structures of kasterite CZTS and sepiolite, further confirming the composite’s composition. The multifunctional CZTS/Sepiolite composite demonstrates exceptional potential for simultaneous photocatalytic degradation and adsorption of organic pollutants, presenting a promising avenue for sustainable water treatment applications.

Cylindrical vector beam multiplexing holography employing spin-decoupled phase modulation metasurface

Abstract Cylindrical vector beams (CVBs) hold considerable promise as high-capacity information carriers for multiplexing holography due to their mode orthogonality. In CVB holography, phase holograms are encoded onto the wave-front of CVBs with different mode orders while preserving their independence during reconstruction. However, a major challenge lies in the limited ability to manipulate the spatial phase and polarization distribution of CVBs independently. To address this challenge, we propose a spin-decoupled phase modulation strategy by leveraging the propagation and geometric phase of composite phase metasurfaces. By exploiting the polarized Poincaré sphere, we show that CVBs can be decomposed into two circularly polarized components with orthogonal polarization states and conjugate phase distributions. This decomposition enables independent control of the phase and polarization distributions of CVBs by modulating the initial phase and phase difference of these two components. Consequently, two holograms with discrete spatial frequency distributions that carry opposite helical phases are encoded to modulate the wave-front of CVBs by the metasurface consisting of Si nanopillars. This allows for us to achieve successful four-channel CVB multiplexing holography. Benefiting from the non-dispersive nature of geometric phase, this metasurface exhibits a broad operating band spanning the entire visible light spectrum (443 nm–633 nm). These suggest that our proposed method offers comprehensive control over the spatial phase and polarization of CVBs, thereby holding significant potential for advancing their application in holography.

Stable and Efficient Mixed-halide Perovskite LEDs.

Tailoring bandgap by mixed-halide strategy in perovskites has attracted extraordinary attention due to the flexibility of halide ion combinations and has emerged as the most direct and effective approach to precisely tune the emission wavelength throughout the entire visible light spectrum. Mixed-halide perovskites, yet, still suffered from several problems, particularly phase segregation under external stimuli because of ions migration. Understanding the essential cause and finding sound strategies, thus, remains a challenge for stable and efficient mixed-halide perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). The review herein presents an overview of the diverse application scenarios and the profound significance associated with mixed-halide perovskites. We then summarize the challenges and potential research directions toward developing high stable and efficient mixed-halide PeLEDs. The review thus provides a systematic and timely summary for the community to deepen the understanding of mixed-halide perovskite materials and resulting PeLEDs.

Nanoarchitectonics of nitric oxide releasing supramolecular structures for enhanced antibacterial efficacy under visible light irradiation

Light‐controlled therapies offer a promising strategy to prevent and suppress infections caused by numerous bacterial pathogens. Excitation of exogenously supplied photosensitizers (PS) at specific wavelengths elicits levels of reactive oxygen intermediates toxic to bacteria. Porphyrin-based supramolecular nanostructure frameworks (SNF) are effective PS with unique physicochemical properties that have led to their widespread use in photomedicine. Herein, we developed a nitric oxide (NO) releasing, biocompatible, and stable porphyrin-based SNF (SNF-NO), which was achieved through a confined noncovalent self-assembly process based on π–π stacking. Characterization of the SNFs via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed the formation of three-dimensional, well-defined octahedral structures. These SNF-NO were shown to exhibit a red shift due to the noncovalent self-assembly of porphyrins, which also show extended light absorption to broadly cover the entire visible light spectrum to enhance photodynamic therapy (PDT). Under visible light irradiation (46 J cm−2), the SNF generates high yields of singlet oxygen (1O2) radicals, hydroxyl radicals (HO), superoxide radicals (O2), and peroxynitrite (ONOO−) radicals that have shown potential to enhance antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) against Gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli). The resulting SNFs also exhibit significant biofilm dispersion and a decrease in biomass production. The combination of robust photosensitizer SNFs with nitric oxide-releasing capabilities is dynamic in its ability to target pathogenic infections while remaining nontoxic to mammalian cells. The engineered SNFs have enormous potential for treating and managing microbial infections.

Efficient Solar Light Photocatalyst Made of Ag3PO4 Coated TiO2-SiO2 Microspheres.

Solar light active photocatalyst was prepared as silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) coating on titania-silica (TiO2-SiO2) microspheres. Titania-silica microsphere was obtained by spray drying TiO2-SiO2 colloidal solutions, whereas Ag3PO4 was applied by wet impregnation. XRD on the granules and SEM analysis show that the silver phosphate particles cover the surface of the titania-silica microspheres, and UV-visible diffuse reflectance analysis highlights that Ag3PO4/TiO2-SiO2 composites can absorb the entire visible light spectrum. BET measurements show higher specific surface area of the composite samples compared to bare Ag3PO4. Photocatalytic activity was evaluated by dye degradation tests under solar light irradiation. The prepared catalysts follow a pseudo-first-order rate law for dye degradation tests under solar light irradiation. The composite catalysts with an Ag3PO4/TiO2-SiO2 ratio of 1:1.6 wt% show better catalytic activity towards both rhodamine B and methylene blue degradation and compared with the results with uncoated TiO2-SiO2 microspheres and the benchmark commercial TiO2 (Evonik-P25) as a reference. The composite photocatalyst showed exceptional efficiency compared to its pristine counterparts and reference material. This is explained as having a higher surface area with optimum light absorption capacity.

A panchromatic graphite-derived-carbon-dot TiO2 photocatalyst: Broad visible light absorption via ligand-to-metal charge transfer

In recent decades, solar-to-chemical conversion catalysts for energy and environmental applications have drawn significant attention. Catalysts composed of nano-size TiO2 and various dye-based photosensitizers can absorb solar light efficiently and produce promising photocatalysts, but their photoactive region is limited. In this study, we demonstrate that nanocomposites composed of graphite-derived carbon dots (GCDs) and TiO2 are capable of ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT), which was active across the entire visible-light spectrum. The effect of GCDs on the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 was determined through the production of hydrogen peroxide and the degradation of pollutants. On the basis of chemical and optical investigation, we demonstrate the formation of an LMCT band in the TiO2/GCD nanocomposites, which are responsible for photoactivation below the bandgap of each component. Our research provides conclusive evidence for the presence of the LMCT band in TiO2/GCD and reveals a novel method for expanding the light-absorption spectrum of the photocatalyst.

Effect of Ethylene Glycol: Citric Acid Molar Ratio and pH on the Morphology, Vibrational, Optical and Electronic Properties of TiO2 and CuO Powders Synthesized by Pechini Method.

High-purity TiO2 and CuO powders were synthesized by the Pechini method, an inexpensive and easy-to-implement procedure to synthetize metal oxides. The variables of synthesis were the ethylene glycol:citric acid molar ratio and the pH. High reproducibility of the anatase and tenorite phase was obtained for all synthesis routes. The degree of purity of the powders was confirmed by XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis absorption and XPS spectra. SEM and TEM images revealed the powders are composed of micrometer grains that can have a spherical shape (only in the TiO2) or formed by a non-compacted nanocrystalline conglomerate. FTIR spectra only displayed vibrational modes associating TiO2 and CuO with nanoparticle behavior. UV-Vis absorption spectra revealed the values of maximum absorbance percentage of both systems are reached in the ultraviolet region, with percentages above 83% throughout the entire visible light spectrum for the CuO system, a relevant result for solar cell applications. Finally, XPS experiments allow the observation of the valence bands and the calculation of the energy bands of all oxides.

Dynamic Control of the Shielding Effectiveness of Optically Transparent Screens

This article presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of an active electromagnetic shield intended to dynamically protect optical and electromagnetic sensors against high intensity radiated fields. The shield exhibits high and constant optical transparency level over the entire visible light spectrum thanks to a micrometric mesh metal thin film printed on a glass substrate. The central micrometric mesh area is separated from the peripheral ground plane of the shield by a peripheral slot. This slot is fitted out with p-i-n diodes and resistors, connecting electrically the central micrometric mesh area and the ground plane. The aim of these components is to dynamically control the shielding effectiveness of the screen, by using the conducting ( <sc xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">on</small> ) or blocking ( <sc xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">off</small> ) states of the p-i-n diodes. Accordingly, the shielding effectiveness can be set at high level to protect the system against high intensity radiated fields, and conversely at low level to both prevent system electromagnetic self-perturbation and increase the sensitivity of the internal electromagnetic sensors. Dynamic control of the shielding effectiveness of the fabricated screen, whose optical transparency is close to 85% over the entire visible light spectrum, is fully demonstrated. A shielding effectiveness contrast ranging from 5 dB to 24 dB between the <sc xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">on</small> and <sc xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">off</small> diode states was measured in the 2–10.5 GHz frequency range in a reverberation chamber.

Semi‐Transparent, Micrometer Resolution p‐NiO/n‐ZnO Heterojunction Diode Temperature Sensors with Ultrathin Metal Anode

AbstractVarious temperature sensitive biological mechanisms have been utilized for new biomedical engineering tools such as neuromodulation, cancer cell hyperthermia or photothermal therapy. Optically transparent and high spatio‐temporal resolution temperature sensors are needed to precisely analyze the biological effects that occur in response to the temperature changes. In this work, semi‐transparent p‐NiO/n‐ZnO heterojunction diode‐based temperature sensors with 100 µm‐diameter ultrathin transparent Au/Ag metal anodes is introduced. The fabricated diode temperature sensors accurately measure temperature changes from 25 to 80 °C, which is of significant interest in many biomedical engineering applications. The sensors also exhibit adequate transparency over the entire visible light spectrum for biomedical imaging including fluorescent microscopy. Low‐power operation of the temperature sensor (&lt;0.2 nW) is achieved to avoid a self‐heating effect. The micro‐scale spatial resolution of the transparent temperature sensors is especially useful for cellular resolution bio‐imaging, optical neural recording, and optical bio‐modulation where transparency and high‐resolution temperature sensing are necessary.

Realization of III-Nitride c-Plane microLEDs Emitting from 470 to 645 nm on Semi-Relaxed Substrates Enabled by V-Defect-Free Base Layers

We examine full InGaN-based microLEDs on c-plane semi-relaxed InGaN substrates grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) that operate across a wide range of emission wavelengths covering nearly the entire visible spectrum. By employing a periodic InGaN base layer structure with high temperature (HT) GaN interlayers on these semi-relaxed substrates, we demonstrate robust μLED devices. A broad range of emission wavelengths ranging from cyan to deep red are realized, leveraging the indium incorporation benefit of the relaxed InGaN substrate with an enlarged lattice parameter. Since a broad range of emission wavelengths can be realized, this base layer scheme allows the tailoring of the emission wavelength to a particular application, including the possibility for nitride LEDs to emit over the entire visible light spectrum. The range of emission possibilities from blue to red makes the relaxed substrate and periodic base layer scheme an attractive platform to unify the visible emission spectra under one singular material system using III-Nitride MOCVD.

Structural, electronic, and optic properties of Se nanotubes

A new category of tubular nanostructures solely composed of selenium was explored by using the density functional theory. Similar to those in carbon nanotubes, the armchair and zigzag tube-like structures formed as a roll-up α-Se nanoribbon. The zigzag (n ≤ 16, 0) nanotubes exhibit decreasingly narrow direct band gap, and the armchair (n, n) possess decreasingly moderate indirect gap. The strain energy of nanotubes is inversely proportional to the second power of the nanotube diameter. With increasing tube diameter, an initial rise and consequent decrease occurred in the effective masses to the limit value of α-Se monolayer. The carrier mobility of nanotubes is comparable with that of its monolayer with orders of 103 and 102 cm2V−1s−1 for electron and hole, respectively. The optical absorption spectra of α-Se nanotubes exhibit high absorbance in energy window cover the entire visible light spectrum. Therefore, α-Se nanotubes hold great potential for future applications in high-performance optoelectronics.

Manipulating the electronic and photocatalytic properties of anatase TiO2 by metalloid doping

Improving the photocatalytic efficiency of photocatalysts is one of the most challenging and meaningful research topics. In this work, using first principles study, the crystal structure, formation energy, electronic structures and photocatalytic properties of metalloid doped TiO2 were investigated. The results show that Si and Te doped TiO2 have excellent photocatalytic activity in the entire visible light spectrum. This is because they have high visible light absorption efficiency, low photogenerated carrier recombination rate and more catalytic active sites. This work provides essential guidance for developing TiO2-based visible light photocatalysis.

Second Harmonic Generation Covering the Entire Visible Range from a 2D Material–Plasmon Hybrid Metasurface

AbstractOn‐chip coherent light source has always been fascinating and intriguing due to its various potential applications. In the past decades, there has been some progress in the development of chip coherent light (e.g., nanolaser, Bose‐Einstein condensation and nonlinear optical effects). However, these methods strictly depend on materials and extreme experimental conditions, and are usually not tunable. Here, a hybrid structure is designed which combines a chirped surface plasmon metasurface with a monolayer transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) to achieve a coherent second harmonic generation (SHG) covering the entire visible light spectrum. Using only finite number of metallic grooves, a continuous resonance tuning is obtained. By translating the metasurface in space, a space‐frequency locking SHG is demonstrated. Although the Q factor of the surface plasmon cavity is low, its near‐field enhancements of both fundamental and SH waves are still obvious. Significantly, the broad linewidth of plasmonic cavity leads to a large degree of overlap between adjacent localized modes, that enables the tuning of the output wavelength continuously at room temperature. Meanwhile, the exciton resonance also plays an important role. This monolithic tunable device demonstrates the potentials of 2D material‐plasmon hybrid metasurface and to construct an efficient broadband tunable on‐chip coherent light source.

Zero-Dimensional Hybrid Cd-Based Perovskites with Broadband Bluish White-Light Emissions.

Recently, low-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid metal halide perovskites acting as single-component white-light emitting materials have attracted extensive attention, but most studies concentrate on hybrid lead perovskites. Herein, we present two isomorphic zero-dimensional (0D) hybrid cadmium perovskites, (HMEDA)CdX4 (HMEDA=hexamethylenediamine, X=Cl (1), Br (2)), which contain isolated [CdX4 ]2- anions separated by [HMEDA]2+ cations. Under UV light excitation, both compounds display broadband bluish white-light emission (515 nm for 1 and 445 nm for 2) covering the entire visible light spectrum with sufficient photophysical stabilities. Remarkably, compound 2 shows a high color rendering index (CRI) of 83 enabling it as a promising candidate for single-component WLED applications. Based on the temperature-dependent, powder-dependent and time-resolved PL measurements as well as other detailed studies, the broadband light emissions are attributed to self-trapped excitons stemming from the strong electron-phonon coupling.

Tailorable Indirect to Direct Band-Gap Double Perovskites with Bright White-Light Emission: Decoding Chemical Structure Using Solid-State NMR.

Efficient white-light-emitting single-material sources are ideal for sustainable lighting applications. Though layered hybrid lead-halide perovskite materials have demonstrated attractive broad-band white-light emission properties, they pose a serious long-term environmental and health risk as they contain lead (Pb2+) and are readily soluble in water. Recently, lead-free halide double perovskite (HDP) materials with a generic formula A(I)2B'(III)B″(I)X6 (where A and B are cations and X is a halide ion) have demonstrated white-light emission with improved photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs). Here, we present a series of Bi3+/In3+ mixed-cationic Cs2Bi1-xInxAgCl6 HDP solid solutions that span the indirect to direct band-gap modification which exhibit tailorable optical properties. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate an indirect-direct band-gap crossover composition when x > 0.50. These HDP materials emit over the entire visible light spectrum, centered at 600 ± 30 nm with full-width at half maxima of ca. 200 nm upon ultraviolet light excitation and a maximum PLQY of 34 ± 4% for Cs2Bi0.085In0.915AgCl6. Short-range structural insight for these materials is crucial to unravel the unique atomic-level structural properties which are difficult to distinguish by diffraction-based techniques. Hence, we demonstrate the advantage of using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to deconvolute the local structural environments of these mixed-cationic HDPs. Using ultrahigh-field (21.14 T) NMR spectroscopy of quadrupolar nuclei (115In, 133Cs, and 209Bi), we show that there is a high degree of atomic-level B'(III)/B″(I) site ordering (i.e., no evidence of antisite defects). Furthermore, a combination of XRD, NMR, and DFT calculations was used to unravel the complete atomic-level random Bi3+/In3+ cationic mixing in Cs2Bi1-xInxAgCl6 HDPs. Briefly, this work provides an advance in understanding the photophysical properties that correlate long- to short-range structural elucidation of these newly developed solid-state white-light emitting HDP materials.

Control of Shielding Effectiveness of Optically Transparent Films by Modification of the Edge Termination Geometry

This article deals with the design, fabrication, and characterization of optically transparent electromagnetic screens to protect optical sensors against high-intensity radiated fields. To ensure the best tradeoff between high optical transparency over the entire visible light spectrum and high shielding effectiveness at microwaves, micrometric mesh metal films printed on glass substrates were selected. Changing the micrometric mesh pattern allows reaching various shielding effectiveness values required for different applications, but implies important adjustments of the design and fabrication processes. The variation of the number of contact ribbons between the mesh screen and its direct peripheral area consists of an alternative solution to modify the screen shielding effectiveness, while keeping the meshed part of the screen identical. An analytical model, which predicts the shielding effectiveness variation measured under statistically uniform illumination in a reverberation chamber as a function of the number of metal ribbons and the aperture sizes between them was specifically developed. Experimental results follow the trend predicted by the analytical model. As a result, adjusting the number of peripheral contact ribbons enables the shielding effectiveness to be fitted to specified requirements at constant optical transparency.