A method of fabricating a thin film structure includes printing, using an electrohydrodynamic jet (e-jet) printing apparatus, a first layer comprising a first liquid ink, such that the first layer is supported by a substrate, curing the first layer; printing, using the e-jet printing apparatus, a second layer comprising a second liquid ink, such that the second layer is supported by the first layer, and curing the second layer.

A two-dimensional square lattice photonic crystal having cross-shaped connecting rods and rotating square rods. The two-dimensional square lattice photonic crystal comprises a high refractive index dielectric cylinder and a low refractive index background dielectric cylinder. The photonic crystal structure is formed by cells in square lattice arrangement. The cells of the square lattice photonic crystal are composed of high refractive index rotating square rods, cross-shaped planar dielectric rods and background dielectrics. The high refractive index rotating square rods are connected to the cross-shaped planar dielectric rods. The lattice constant of the square lattice photonic crystal is a, the side length d of each rotating square cylinder is O.SIa to 0.64a, the rotation angle of each rotating square cylinder rod is 2.300 to 87.70, and the width t of each cross-shaped planar dielectric rod is 0.032a to 0.072 a. The distance G of the cross-shaped planar dielectric rods that move, from bottom to top and from left to right within a lattice period relative to the rotating square rods is 0.4a to 0.6a. According to the photonic crystal structure, the integration level of a light path can be provided easily, and a large absolute forbidden band can be achieved.

Spectroscopy systems suitable for estimating the composition of test samples are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention include an element that can be embedded within a sample and operatively couple with elements of the system located outside the sample, thereby enabling long-term monitoring of the sample. An embodiment includes radiation-emitting and radiation-detecting devices having periodic structures, such as photonic crystals and/or plasmonic metamaterials, which serve to filter the wavelengths of radiation at which they operate and/or enhance responsivity for those wavelengths. In some embodiments, the detecting devices are housed in a module suitable for long-term implantation within the sample. In some embodiments, the radiation-emitting and detecting devices are located external to the sample and are optically coupled with a mirror implanted within the sample. In some embodiments, an estimate of the composition of the test sample is generated at controller that is in communication with the emitter module.

The present technology provides an illustrative method for preparing fibers with desirable optical characteristics. The method includes providing a fiber that comprises a core layer and a cladding layer located around the core layer. The method further includes applying a nanostructure template to the cladding layer to form one or more photonic nanostructures having nanostructure scales and compressing the core layer to cause the core layer to bulge and form air gaps between the core layer and the one or more photonic nanostructures.

Light-reflective materials and methods for their preparation and use are described. The materials can have multiple particles or voids arranged in a crystal structure. The materials can reflect various types of light such as visible light, ultraviolet light, or infrared light.

A light emitting device comprises a semiconductor diode structure configured to emit light, a substrate that is transparent to light emitted by the semiconductor diode structure, and a reflective nanostructured layer. The reflective nanostructured layer may be disposed on or adjacent to a bottom surface of the substrate and configured to reflect toward and through a side wall surface of the substrate light that is emitted by the semiconductor structure and incident on the reflective nanostructured layer at angles at or near perpendicular incidence. Alternatively, the reflective nanostructured layer may be disposed on or adjacent to at least one sidewall surface of the substrate and configured to reflect toward and through the bottom surface of the substrate light that is emitted by the semiconductor structure and incident on the reflective nanostructured layer at angles at or near perpendicular incidence.

A smart glass uses a guided self-assembled photonic crystal, including a photonic crystal layer that is interposed between a pair of conductive glass plates. The smart glass includes a first material and a second material having a different refractive index from the first material and surrounding the first material. Thereby, the smart glass has a color, even when a dye is not included, by strongly reflecting light in a specific wavelength range incident to the photonic crystal layer. This is because the first material is formed regularly to have a constant distance by guided self-assembly, and the smart glass thereby may obtain a target color by randomly adjusting the distance between the first materials.

An optical coating includes a first resonator with a broadband light absorber. A second resonator includes a narrowband light absorber which is disposed adjacent to and optically coupled to the broadband light absorber. The phase of light reflected from the first resonator slowly varies as a function of wavelength compared to the rapid phase change of the second resonator which exhibits a phase jump within the bandwidth of the broadband light absorber. A thin film optical beam spitter filter coating is also described.

Selective receiver coatings provide high performance for concentrated solar power applications. The coating provides high solar absorptivity (90% or greater) with low IR emissivity (0.1 or less) while maintaining stability at temperatures greater than 700° C. The coating comprises a composite of nanoparticles forming mesoporous with a conformal coating.

Methods and systems for thermal printing of thermally printable photonic crystal materials and assemblies. The photonic crystal materials and assemblies are responsive to thermal stimuli, wherein temperatures above a thermal threshold results in an optically detectable change in the appearance of the materials and assemblies. Heat is selectively applied to one or more portions of the materials and assemblies, in order to thermally print a graphic onto the materials and assemblies.