Organic optical functional materials show immense potential in smart materials, bioimaging, and theranostics. Despite their widespread utility, most photofunctional materials are principally derived from petrochemical sources, facing limitations in sustainability and monotonous skeletal structure. Nature-derived compounds offer unique molecular scaffolds that can inspire the design of innovative optical functional materials in addition to renewability and sustainability. Herein, we report the rational design of a novel biomass-based electron acceptor, dehydroabietic acid quinoxaline (DAQx), derived from renewable rosin. By coupling DAQx with triphenylamine, we constructed a series of electron donor-acceptor-type natural product-based aggregation-induced emission materials with tunable conjugation and charge transfer characteristics. These compounds exhibit dual-state responsive fluorescence, demonstrating both solvent-dependent emission in solution and polymorphism-dependent luminescence in solids. Remarkably, DAQx-BP displays distinct green and yellow fluorescence in different crystalline polymorphs, despite near-identical molecular packing with intermolecular interaction differences of <0.01 Å, which is a rare phenomenon highlighting extreme structure-property sensitivity. Leveraging these unique photophysical properties, DAQx-BP is applied in dual-modal smart anti-counterfeiting in both solution and aggregate states. This work not only provides a general strategy for designing sustainable, natural product-derived electron acceptors but also significantly expands the functional applications of natural resources in advanced optical materials.

Porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) films, owing to their excellent dielectric, mechanical, and optical properties, have been widely applied in electronic devices, catalytic supports, and optical materials. Anodization is the primary method for fabricating high-quality porous AAO films, The conductive behavior and mechanism of commonly used carbon rod counter electrodes represent significant factors influencing the microstructure and properties of the films. In this study, a 6 wt% phosphoric acid solution was employed as the electrolyte, circular aluminum foil served as the anode, and carbon rods were used as the counter electrode with an inter-electrode distance of 15 cm, The oxidation time was fixed at 40 s. The conductive behavior of the carbon rod under oxidation voltages ranging from 100 V to 140 V was experimentally investigated. Results showed that the pore depth and diameter of the AAO film symmetrically decreased from the film center toward the edges. When the oxidation voltage was below 110 V, the gradients of pore depth and diameter from the center outward were relatively small, resulting in a macroscopically uniform structural color. At an oxidation voltage of 110 V, the gradients of pore depth and diameter increased significantly, producing iridescent concentric ring structural colors. With further increase in voltage, the gradients became more pronounced, the number of structural color rings increased, and the visible color gamut was significantly broadened. Electromagnetic and electrochemical theories were utilized to calculate the conductive behavior of the carbon rod under different oxidation voltages and to analyze its conduction mechanism. The carbon rod was found to exhibit “quasi-point electrode” conductive characteristics, with the selection of point electrode positions on the carbon rod following the principle of minimizing the resistance between the two electrodes. This finding not only enriches the electrochemical theory of anodization but also provides theoretical and experimental support for the fabrication of multifunctional AAO films.

Effect of alkali (Na/K) on erbium-doped gadolinium oxyfluoride phosphate glasses for broadband optical amplifiers and laser medium materials

Chalcogenides stand as the most promising candidates for infrared nonlinear optical (NLO) materials, and the pursuit of high-performance ones remains both compelling and challenging. Hitherto, there is no NLO Nb-based...

Quantum chemical engineering of enhanced nonlinear optical responses in alkali metal-doped diazadioxacirculenes for molecular photonics.

The optical solitons have been of considerable interest for a long time because of the important applications, such as all-optical information processing (e.g. all-optical switch, and all-logic gates, etc.), optical manipulation and beam control, etc. It was shown that an annular optical soliton may be formed when a fully coherent vortex beam propagates in strongly nonlocal nonlinear media (SNNM). The annular optical soliton with vortex has more advantages in applications than the Gaussian-like optical soliton without vortex. In practice, partially coherent beams are often encountered, and the partial coherence is one of the main features of laser beams. However, when a partially coherent vortex beam propagates in SNNM, an optical soliton cannot be formed due to partial coherence. The aim of this paper is to find a kind of partially coherent vortex soliton.&lt;br&gt;Based on the extended diffraction integral principle together with the ABCD matrix of SNNM, the analytical propagation formula of twisted partially coherent vortex（TPCV）beams in SNNM is derived in this paper. It is found that an annular optical soliton may be formed in SNNM because of the twist feature of TPCV beams, even if the spatial coherence is extremely low. The conditions for the formation of annular optical solitons of TPCV beams in SNNM are also given in this paper. In addition, it is shown that the intensity and the gradient force of annular optical solitons increase as the partial coherence of TPCV beams decreases, which may be applied in optical manipulation.&lt;br&gt;On the other hand, under certain conditions, an optical soliton may also be formed, when a TPCV beam and a twisted Gaussian Schell-model (TGSM) beam are combined coaxially and incoherently in SNNM. The conditions for the formation of optical solitons of the combined beams in SNNM are independent of the beam coherence degree, the topological charge, and the proportion of sub-beam power. Furthermore, the gradient force can be manipulated by the beam coherence degree, and the profile of optical solitons can be manipulated by the topological charge and the proportion of sub-beam power. The results obtained in this paper is useful for optical manipulation, material processing, and beam control.

First-principles study of ABSe₃ (A = Li, Na) Perselenoborates: A Promising Family of Nonlinear Optical Materials

Nano-channel anisotropic optical material containing ∼5 nm diameter aligned Se nanowires with enhanced photo-structural effects and unique photonic, electronic, phononic and thermal properties

In order to explore the effect of the presence of CPh versus SiPh parts on the optical nonlinearities of phenyl-decorated adamantane-type clusters, the second harmonic generation (SHG) spectra of molecular clusters with the general formula [(CPh)x(SiPh)4-xS6] and x = 0,…, 4, are calculated within (hybrid) density functional theory. The stepwise replacement of C atoms with Si at the bridgehead positions leads to the blue-shift of the first SHG peak and to a redistribution of the spectral weights of the different signatures. The electronic transitions related to the SHG peaks are found to occur mainly at the substituents, which are common to all investigated compounds. However, the peak intensity strongly depends on the substitution induced distortion of the cluster core. Thus, although the cluster core is not directly involved in the genesis of the optical nonlinearities, it heavily impacts their intensity. The presented results suggest that reducing the core symmetry provides a pathway to enhance the SHG response of the clusters and yields a theoretical foundation for the design of nonlinear optical materials with tailored properties.

With a versatile triarylamine core and three directional pyridyl donors, tri(4-pyridylphenyl)amine (TPPA) serves as a multifunctional building unit for applications ranging from optical materials to framework linkers. Nevertheless, its conformational...

Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) gratings, as an emerging optical material, offer significant advantages such as low fabrication cost, suitability for large-area processing, and rapid electro-optic response. They show great potential in holographic waveguide displays and optical interconnection systems, where they are often used as key beam-splitting and coupling components. However, most current beam-splitting devices based on PDLC materials are limited to generating 2×2 diffraction arrays, which considerably restricts their ability to achieve multi-channel and multi-order light field modulation, thereby failing to meet the growing demands of high-dimensional optical information processing.&lt;br&gt;To overcome this limitation, this study proposes a fabrication scheme for two-dimensional PDLC gratings based on holographic multi-beam interference. First, starting from holographic interference theory, we rigorously derived the light intensity distribution function of the multibeam interference field. Second, a physical model of a volume holographic transmission grating with a refractive index distribution matching the interference field intensity was constructed using the finite element analysis software COMSOL Multiphysics. Utilizing this model, we simulated and optimized the final diffraction performance by varying key fabrication parameters, such as the exposure intensity ratio between the reference and object beams and the grating layer thickness.&lt;br&gt;During the experimental validation phase, we successfully fabricated a one-dimensional PDLC grating using a symmetrical three-wave interference exposure method. Under normal incidence with a 532 nm laser, the fabricated one-dimensional PDLC grating demonstrated symmetric diffraction, with the pair of first-order beams both exhibiting a diffraction efficiency exceeding 44%, thereby preliminarily verifying the reliability of the model. Building on this foundation, we further designed an innovative five-wave interference exposure setup. Using a custom-made quadrilateral pyramid beam splitter, we achieved five-beam interference and successfully prepared a two-dimensional PDLC grating that met the design specifications. Test results demonstrate that under normal incidence at 532 nm, this two-dimensional grating produces a 3×3 two-dimensionaldiffraction array. The 1st-order diffraction angle is 18.4°, and the beamsplitting energy ratio of each single 1st-order diffracted light exceeds 10%, achieving efficient energy distribution.

Promising UV/DUV nonlinear optical materials with X-membered (X = multiples of 6) rings in anhydrous inorganic borates

Search for new nonlinear optical materials via chemical substitution and combined structural studies in alkali metal rare-earth borates

The disulfide dianion [S2]2-, as an important structural motif in sulfides, can incorporate isolated S2- to form homoatomic heteroleptic polyhedra [MSx(S2)y]. However, the sulfides that contain [MSx(S2)y] units have been rarely reported and have not been systematically investigated as infrared (IR) nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. It is verified in this work that the homoatomic heteroleptic coordination strategy enhances local structural asymmetry, leading to improved optical anisotropy and NLO performance. Three compounds, namely, ANb2PS10(A = K,Rb,Cs), were identified and prepared. They exhibit a large phase-matchable second-harmonic generation (SHG) response, with KNb2PS10, RbNb2PS10, and CsNb2PS10 showing the effects of 1.5, 2.2, and 1.8 (×AgGaS2@2090 nm), respectively, and large birefringence (Δn = 0.39@546 nm) with KNb2PS10 as a representative. The first-principles calculations indicate that [Nb2S4(S2)4]8- units play a dominant role in inducing strong SHG responses and large birefringence. By validating the homoatomic heteroleptic coordination strategy, this work opens avenues for the design of advanced optical materials.

ABSTRACT The growing demand for advanced functional materials has led to the development of various additive manufacturing techniques (AM), with vat photopolymerization (VP) emerging as a key technology. VP is a versatile light‐based AM technique for producing complex 3D structures from a wide range of functional materials. VP material diversity stems from its compatibility with various monomers, oligomers, solvents, and fillers, enabling for the fabrication of materials with tailored properties. This article systematically examines recent advancements in VP fabrication and analyzes strategies for incorporating functional elements into 3D‐printed material structures. We investigate the spectrum of functionalities achieved in novel materials by categorizing design into four main groups: The use of functional additives, the molecular design of the photopolymerizable system, post‐processing procedures, and functional structural architectures. Specifically, we analyze recent reports on novel functional materials in the field of VP, such as conductive, energy‐storing, optical, high‐performance, stimuli‐responsive, self‐healing, shape‐memory, recyclable, bioengineering, and biomedical materials. The article also discusses characterization methods required for the fabrication of state‐of‐the‐art materials. We conclude by underscoring the immense versatility of VP for fabricating functional and multifunctional materials, and its potential for future advancements in applications such as energy, medicine, robotics, and physical AI.

ABSTRACT Infrared optical materials are critical for numerous applications, yet accurately characterizing their intrinsic optical properties remains challenging. Traditional theoretical approaches—ranging from empirical molecular dynamics to first‐principles methods like density functional perturbation theory (DFPT)—face trade‐offs between accuracy and computational cost, particularly for complex or low‐symmetry material systems. Here, we tackle these challenges by introducing a fast and accurate infrared spectroscopy computational framework using machine learning interatomic potentials. By leveraging machine‐learned interatomic forces, this method bypasses costly higher order DFPT calculations, enabling rapid extraction of phonon vibrational parameters. These parameters are then integrated into infrared‐active vibration models to compute dielectric functions and infrared optical properties. Validated across diverse materials, our proposed framework demonstrates broad applicability while achieving a drastic reduction in computational cost compared to conventional methods. This framework bridges the gap between experimental characterization and theoretical predictions, offering a scalable tool for high‐throughput screening and design of infrared optical materials.

Navigating the Landscape of Next-Generation Nonlinear Optical Materials Discovery: Opportunities and Challenges Driven by Artificial Intelligence

The highest infrared-active optical phonon frequency (νmax) is a critical parameter governing infrared optical responses, thermal transport, and photon-phonon interactions in polar crystals. Despite their significance, current predictive methods still face challenges in accuracy, efficiency, and transferability across diverse material systems. We present a robust, physics-informed framework that synergizes bond valence theory with intrinsic crystallographic parameters to predict νmax accurately. Validated across more than 100 complex oxides and 12 doped material systems, the model achieves exceptional agreement with experimental and first-principles-calculated data. Furthermore, we extend our framework to account for temperature and doping effects, enabling the precise tuning of νmax through compositional engineering. Our model also shows predictability regarding infrared absorption edges, offering a direct pathway to design infrared-transparent materials with tailored transmission windows. This work provides a universal strategy for accelerating the discovery and optimization of advanced infrared optical materials, with broad applications in thermal management, photonics, and radiative coatings.

This study presents an optical and thermal design for a compact 10× periscope zoom lens suitable for smartphones, employing a hybrid thermal compensation scheme to ensure stable imaging performance over a wide range of temperatures. Our proposed zoom optics system integrates passive and active compensation mechanisms, further enhancing thermal stability through the use of a curved image sensor. Passive compensation is achieved through the selection of low-G optical materials and an optimized structural configuration. In contrast, active compensation dynamically adjusts the zoom group position in response to changes in ambient temperature. Optical simulations confirm that this 10× periscope zoom lens, composed of a prism, eight aspherical lenses, and two parallel plates, maintains diffraction-limited resolution and less than 2% distortion at all zoom positions (Zoom 1 to Zoom 6), achieving a total depth of 4.96 mm. Thermal analysis at temperatures ranging from −20 °C to 60 °C demonstrates that the optimized design, utilizing a curved sensor (Design type 3), achieves an average MTF of 0.58 and an average degradation rate of only 12.8%, exhibiting excellent non-thermal performance. These results highlight the effectiveness of the proposed novel hybrid thermal compensation strategy and surface sensor integration in realizing high-magnification, thermally stable periscope optics for next-generation smartphone imaging systems.

Thermal management of lasers fundamentally limits the upper limit of their output power as well as their operational stability. In this context, liquid-state lasers exhibit an unparalleled advantage in power scalability and stability, owing to their highly efficient heat dissipation facilitated by continuous fluid circulation. Additionally, the intrinsic compatibility of liquid lasers with microfluidic platforms also holds great promise for integration into energy-efficient, miniaturized photonic systems. Colloidal quantum dots (QDs), which are solution-processed semiconductor nanocrystals, have emerged as highly versatile optical gain materials. While research over the past decade has been predominantly centered on solid-state QD lasers made from densely packed QD films or composite matrices, there has been a recent surge of interest in exploring QDs in their native dispersion form as active gain media for liquid-state lasers. This review provides a systematic overview of recent advances in QD-based liquid lasers, detailing their operational principles, critical performance metrics, and highlighting their unique advantages. Moreover, we point out current technical bottlenecks and explore prospective strategies for overcoming these limitations to pave the way for practicalQD-based liquid lasing technologies.