Abstract: A three-dimensional, microscale-textured, grating-shaped organic solar cell geometry. The solar cells are fabricated on gratings to give them a three-dimensional texture that provides enhanced light absorption. Introduction of microscale texturing has a positive effect on the overall power conversion efficiency of the devices. This grating-based solar cell having a grating of pre-determined pitch and height has shown improved power-conversion efficiency over a conventional flat solar cell. The improvement in efficiency is accomplished by homogeneous coverage of the grating with uniform thickness of the active layer, which is attributed to a sufficiently high pitch and low height of the underlying gratings. Also the microscale texturing leads to suppressed reflection of incident light due to the efficient coupling of the incident light into modes that are guided in the active layer.

Abstract: Metallic thermal emitters consisting of two layers of differently structured nickel gratings on a homogeneous nickel layer are fabricated by soft lithography and studied for polarized thermal radiation. A thermal emitter in combination with a sub-wavelength grating shows a high extinction ratio, with a maximum value close to 5, in a wide mid-infrared range from 3.2 to 7.8 ?m, as well as high emissivity up to 0.65 at a wavelength of 3.7 ?m. All measurements show good agreement with theoretical predictions. Numerical simulations reveal that a high electric field exists within the localized air space surrounded by the gratings and the intensified electric-field is only observed for the polarizations perpendicular to the top sub-wavelength grating. This result suggests how the emissivity of a metal can be selectively enhanced at a certain range of wavelengths for a given polarization.

Abstract: Provided are microlens arrays for use on the substrate of OLEDs to extract more light that is trapped in waveguided modes inside the devices and methods of manufacturing same. Light extraction with microlens arrays is not limited to the light emitting area, but is also efficient in extracting light from the whole microlens patterned area where waveguiding occurs. Large microlens array, compared to the size of the light emitting area, extract more light and result in over 100% enhancement. Such a microlens array is not limited to (O)LEDs of specific emission, configuration, pixel size, or pixel shape. It is suitable for all colors, including white, for microcavity OLEDs, and OLEDs fabricated directly on the (modified) microlens array.

Abstract: A multi-channel polarized thermal emitter (PTE) is presented. The multi-channel PTE can emit polarized thermal radiation without using a polarizer at normal emergence. The multi-channel PTE consists of two layers of metallic gratings on a monolithic and homogeneous metallic plate. It can be fabricated by a low-cost soft lithography technique called two-polymer microtransfer molding. The spectral positions of the mid-infrared (MIR) radiation peaks can be tuned by changing the periodicity of the gratings and the spectral separation between peaks are tuned by changing the mutual angle between the orientations of the two gratings.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a photonic crystal is provided. In the method, a high-refractive-index material is conformally deposited on an exposed portion of a periodic template composed of a low-refractive-index material by an atomic layer deposition process so that a difference in refractive indices or dielectric constants between the template and adjacent air becomes greater, which makes it possible to form a three-dimensional photonic crystal having a superior photonic bandgap. Herein, the three-dimensional structure may be prepared by a layer-by-layer method.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a photonic crystal is provided. In the method, a high-refractive-index material is conformally deposited on an exposed portion of a periodic template composed of a low-refractive-index material by an atomic layer deposition process so that a difference in refractive indices or dielectric constants between the template and adjacent air becomes greater, which makes it possible to form a three-dimensional photonic crystal having a superior photonic bandgap. Herein, the three-dimensional structure may be prepared by a layer-by-layer method.

Abstract: A three-dimensional, microscale-textured, grating-shaped organic solar cell geometry. The solar cells are fabricated on gratings to give them a three-dimensional texture that provides enhanced light absorption. Introduction of microscale texturing has a positive effect on the overall power conversion efficiency of the devices. This grating-based solar cell having a grating of pre-determined pitch and height has shown improved power-conversion efficiency over a conventional flat solar cell. The improvement in efficiency is accomplished by homogeneous coverage of the grating with uniform thickness of the active layer, which is attributed to a sufficiently high pitch and low height of the underlying gratings. Also the microscale texturing leads to suppressed reflection of incident light due to the efficient coupling of the incident light into modes that are guided in the active layer.

Abstract: Nanoscale high-aspect-ratio metallic structures and methods are presented. Such structures may form transparent electrode to enhance the performance of solar cells and light-emitting diodes. These structures can be used as infrared control filters because they reflect high amounts of infrared radiation. A grating structure of polymeric bars affixed to a transparent substrate is used. The sides of the bars are coated with metal forming nanowires. Electrodes may be configured to couple to a subset of the rails forming interdigitated electrodes. Encapsulation is used to improve transparency and transparency at high angles. The structure may be inverted to facilitate fabrication of a solar cell or other device on the back-side of the structure. Multiple layered electrodes having an active layer sandwiched between two conductive layers may be used. Layered electro-active layers may be used to form a smart window where the structure is encapsulated between glass to modify the incoming light.

Abstract: Nanoscale high-aspect-ratio metallic structures and methods are presented. Such structures may form transparent electrode to enhance the performance of solar cells and light-emitting diodes. These structures can be used as infrared control filters because they reflect high amounts of infrared radiation. A grating structure of polymeric bars affixed to a transparent substrate is used. The sides of the bars are coated with metal forming nanowires. Electrodes may be configured to couple to a subset of the rails forming interdigitated electrodes. Encapsulation is used to improve transparency and transparency at high angles. The structure may be inverted to facilitate fabrication of a solar cell or other device on the back-side of the structure. Multiple layered electrodes having an active layer sandwiched between two conductive layers may be used. Layered electro-active layers may be used to form a smart window where the structure is encapsulated between glass to modify the incoming light.

Abstract: Metallic thermal emitters consisting of two layers of differently structured nickel gratings on a homogeneous nickel layer are fabricated by soft lithography and studied for polarized thermal radiation. A thermal emitter in combination with a sub-wavelength grating shows a high extinction ratio, with a maximum value close to 5, in a wide mid-infrared range from 3.2 to 7.8 ?m, as well as high emissivity up to 0.65 at a wavelength of 3.7 ?m. All measurements show good agreement with theoretical predictions. Numerical simulations reveal that a high electric field exists within the localized air space surrounded by the gratings and the intensified electric-field is only observed for the polarizations perpendicular to the top sub-wavelength grating. This result suggests how the emissivity of a metal can be selectively enhanced at a certain range of wavelengths for a given polarization.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing photonic band gap structures operable in the optical spectrum has been presented. The method comprises the steps of filling a plurality of grooves of an elastomeric mold with a UV curable first polymer, each groove in parallel with each other and partially curing the first polymer. A second polymer is coated on the first polymer. A substrate or a multi-layer polymer structure is placed on the filled mold and the resulting structure is exposed to UV light (i.e., is UV cured). The mold is peeled away from the first and second polymers such that a layer of polymer rods is formed on the substrate/multi-layer polymer structure. The process is repeated until a desired number of layers have been formed. The multi-layer structure can be used to create ceramic and metallic photonic band gaps by infiltration, electro-deposition, and/or metal coating.

Abstract: A metallic photonic crystal (MPC) structure used as a filter with incandescent lighting is presented that significantly improves efficiency, while retaining the desirable color rendering index of incandescent lighting. The resulting efficiency is higher than many existing lighting types. The MPC filter is implemented with only a single layer of square lattice or two layers of woodpile-like lattice has high reflection from the photonic band edge to infinitely long wavelength. The MPC filter can be used in a spherical, cylindrical or flat form depending on the illumination scheme.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing photonic band gap structures operable in the optical spectrum has been presented. The method comprises the steps of filling a plurality of grooves of an elastomeric mold with a UV curable first polymer, each groove in parallel with each other and partially curing the first polymer. A second polymer is coated on the first polymer. A substrate or a multi-layer polymer structure is placed on the filled mold and the resulting structure is exposed to UV light (i.e., is UV cured). The mold is peeled away from the first and second polymers such that a layer of polymer rods is formed on the substrate/multi-layer polymer structure. The process is repeated until a desired number of layers have been formed. The multi-layer structure can be used to create ceramic and metallic photonic band gaps by infiltration, electro-deposition, and/or metal coating.

Abstract: A directional antenna made with photonic band gap structures has been presented. The directional antenna is formed with two photonic band gap structures oriented back to back and separated from each other by a distance to form a resonant cavity between the photonic band gap structures. An antenna element is placed in the resonant cavity. The resonant frequency of the cavity is tuned by adjusting the distance between the photonic band gap structures. The resonant cavity can be asymmetrical or symmetrical.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing photonic band gap structures operable in the optical spectrum has been presented. The method comprises the steps of creating a patterned template for an elastomeric mold, fabricating an elastomeric mold from poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or other suitable polymer, filling the elastomeric mold with a second polymer such as epoxy or other suitable polymer, stamping the second polymer by making contact with a substrate or multilayer structure, removing the elastomeric mold, infiltrating the multilayer structure with ceramic or metal, and heating the multilayer structure to remove the second polymer to form a photonic band gap structure.

Abstract: A method for forming a periodic dielectric structure exhibiting photonic band gap effects includes forming a slurry of a nano-crystalline ceramic dielectric or semiconductor material and monodisperse polymer microspheres, depositing a film of the slurry on a substrate, drying the film, and calcining the film to remove the polymer microspheres therefrom. The film may be cold-pressed after drying and prior to calcining. The ceramic dielectric or semiconductor material may be titania, and the polymer microspheres may be polystyrene microspheres.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexible metallic photonic band gap structure operable in the infrared region, comprises the steps of spinning on a first layer of dielectric on a GaAs substrate, imidizing this first layer of dielectric, forming a first metal pattern on this first layer of dielectric, spinning on and imidizing a second layer of dielectric, and then removing the GaAs substrate. This method results in a flexible metallic photonic band gap structure operable with various filter characteristics in the infrared region. This method may be used to construct multi-layer flexible metallic photonic band gap structures. Metal grid defects and dielectric separation layer thicknesses are adjusted to control filter parameters.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a periodic dielectric structure which exhibits a photonic band gap. Alignment holes are formed in a wafer of dielectric material having a given crystal orientation. A planar layer of elongate rods is then formed in a section of the wafer. The formation of the rods includes the step of selectively removing the dielectric material of the wafer between the rods. The formation of alignment holes and layers of elongate rods and wafers is then repeated to form a plurality of patterned wafers. A stack of patterned wafers is then formed by rotating each successive wafer with respect to the next-previous wafer, and then placing the successive wafer on the stack. This stacking results in a stack of patterned wafers having a four-layer periodicity exhibiting a photonic band gap.

Abstract: A periodic dielectric structure which is capable of producing a photonic band gap and which is capable of practical construction. The periodic structure is formed of a plurality of layers, each layer being formed of a plurality of rods separated by a given spacing. The material of the rods contrasts with the material between the rods to have a refractive index contrast of at least two. The rods in each layer are arranged with their axes parallel and at a given spacing. Adjacent layers are rotated by 90.degree., such that the axes of the rods in any given layer are perpendicular to the axes in its neighbor. Alternating layers (that is, successive layers of rods having their axes parallel such as the first and third layers) are offset such that the rods of one are about at the midpoint between the rods of the other. A four-layer periocity is thus produced, and successive layers are stacked to form a three-dimensional structure which exhibits a photonic band gap.