Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate might be desirable for WGP flexibility or to aid in further processing of the WGP. Wires of the WGP can include flexible ribs to minimize or avoid defects such as cracks in the WGP. An etch stop layer in the wires can allow formation of the flexible ribs without delamination of a reflective portion of the wires. The WGP embodiments herein can have improved flexibility, stretchablility, compressibility, or combinations thereof with reduced cracking, collapse, and delamination of wires or ribs.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate might be desirable for WGP flexibility or to aid in further processing of the WGP. Wires of the WGP can include flexible ribs to minimize or avoid defects such as cracks in the WGP. An etch stop layer in the wires can allow formation of the flexible ribs without delamination of a reflective portion of the wires. The WGP embodiments herein can have improved flexibility, stretchability, compressibility, or combinations thereof with reduced cracking, collapse, and delamination of wires or ribs.

Abstract: A method for making a wire grid polarizer (WGP) can provide WGPs with high temperature resistance, robust wires, oxidation resistance, and corrosion protection. In one embodiment, the method can comprise: (a) providing an array of wires on a bottom protection layer; (b) applying a top protection layer on the wires, spanning channels between wires; then (c) applying an upper barrier-layer on the top protection layer and into the channels through permeable junctions in the top protection layer. In a variation of this embodiment, the method can further comprise applying a lower barrier-layer before applying the top protection layer. In another variation, the bottom protection layer and the top protection layer can include aluminum oxide. In another embodiment, the method can comprise applying on the WGP an amino phosphonate then a hydrophobic chemical.

Abstract: The reflective wire grid polarizers herein can withstand ultraviolet light without rapid degradation and can have high performance in the ultraviolet spectrum. In one example, each wire can include a metal layer, a pair of low index layers, a silicon layer, and a high index layer. The metal layer can be sandwiched between the pair of low index layers. The metal layer and the pair of low index layers can be sandwiched between the silicon layer and the high index layer. In another example, each wire can include a metal layer and a silicon layer. The silicon layer can be thicker than the metal layer. Thus, the silicon layer can be relatively thick, and can be the main polarizing component of the wire. The metal layer can be added for increased reflectance.

Abstract: The wire grid polarizers 10 and 30 described herein, and wire grid polarizers made by methods described herein, can have high performance across a broad range of the ultraviolet spectrum and across a broad angle of incidence. These polarizers can be durable (resistant to heat, moisture, ultraviolet light, and oxidation). The polarizer can include an array of wires 15 on a substrate 11. Each wire 15 can have a silicon core 12 and a pair of silicon dioxide ribs 13. The core 12 can be sandwiched between the pair of ribs 13, with each rib 13 adjacent to a sidewall 12s of the core 12. A rib width W13 can be ?4 nm. Each wire 15 can also include a silicon dioxide cap 14. The core 12 can be encircled by a silicon dioxide ring 17.

Abstract: Optical devices with different regions or pixels can form an image. An opaque-region 14 can be used to separate different pixels. Sometimes the optical device needs to be flexible, for elongation or stretching onto a curved surface. But, the opaque-region 14 can be damaged as it is stretched. A flexible optical device can include a modified opaque-region 14 for improved flexibility. The opaque-region 14 can include a thin-film 12 with multiple cavities 13, multiple zones 63, or both. Each zone 63 can have a shape optimized to both block incoming light and for flexibility. Each zone 63 can be encircled and separated from adjacent zones 63 by a groove 62. The cavities 13 and the separate zones 63 can allow the opaque-region 14 to bend or stretch without cracking or delamination of the thin-film 12.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can have a conformal-coating to protect the WGP from at least one of the following: corrosion, dust, and damage due to tensile forces in a liquid on the WGP. The conformal-coating can include a silane conformal-coating with chemical formula (1), chemical formula (2), or combinations thereof: A method of applying a conformal-coating over a WGP can include exposing the WGP to Si(R1)d(R2)e(R3)g. In the above WGP and method, X can be a bond to the ribs; each R1 can be a hydrophobic group; each R3, if any, can be any chemical element or group; d can be 1, 2, or 3, e can be 1, 2, or 3, g can be 0, 1, or 2, and d+e+g=4; R2 can be a silane-reactive-group; and each R6 can be an alkyl group, an aryl group, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate might be desirable for WGP flexibility or to aid in further processing of the WGP. Wires of the WGP can include flexible ribs to minimize or avoid defects such as cracks in the WGP. An etch stop layer in the wires can allow formation of the flexible ribs without delamination of a reflective portion of the wires. The WGP embodiments herein can have improved flexibility, stretchablility, compressibility, or combinations thereof with reduced cracking, collapse, and delamination of wires or ribs.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate might be desirable for WGP flexibility or to aid in further processing of the WGP. Wires of the WGP can include flexible ribs to minimize or avoid defects such as cracks in the WGP. An etch stop layer in the wires can allow formation of the flexible ribs without delamination of a reflective portion of the wires. The WGP embodiments herein can have improved flexibility, stretchability, compressibility, or combinations thereof with reduced cracking, collapse, and delamination of wires or ribs.

Abstract: A method for making a wire grid polarizer (WGP) can provide WGPs with high temperature resistance, robust wires, oxidation resistance, and corrosion protection. In one embodiment, the method can comprise: (a) providing an array of wires on a bottom protection layer; (b) applying a top protection layer on the wires, spanning channels between wires; then (c) applying an upper barrier-layer on the top protection layer and into the channels through permeable junctions in the top protection layer. In a variation of this embodiment, the method can further comprise applying a lower barrier-layer before applying the top protection layer. In another variation, the bottom protection layer and the top protection layer can include aluminum oxide. In another embodiment, the method can comprise applying on the WGP an amino phosphonate then a hydrophobic chemical.

Abstract: A method for making a wire grid polarizer (WGP) can provide WGPs with high temperature resistance, robust wires, oxidation resistance, and corrosion protection. In one embodiment, the method can comprise: (a) providing an array of wires on a bottom protection layer; (b) applying a top protection layer on the wires, spanning channels between wires; then (c) applying an upper barrier-layer on the top protection layer and into the channels through permeable junctions in the top protection layer. In a variation of this embodiment, the method can further comprise applying a lower barrier-layer before applying the top protection layer. In another variation, the bottom protection layer and the top protection layer can include aluminum oxide. In another embodiment, the method can comprise applying on the WGP an amino phosphonate then a hydrophobic chemical.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can have a conformal-coating to protect the WGP from at least one of the following: corrosion, dust, and damage due to tensile forces in a liquid on the WGP. The conformal-coating can include a silane conformal-coating with chemical formula (1), chemical formula (2), or combinations thereof: A method of applying a conformal-coating over a WGP can include exposing the WGP to Si(R1)a(R2)e(R3)g. In the above WGP and method, X can be a bond to the ribs; each R1 can be a hydrophobic group; each R3, if any, can be any chemical element or group; d can be 1, 2, or 3, e can be 1, 2, or 3, g can be 0, 1, or 2, and d+e+g=4; R2 can be a silane-reactive-group; and each R6 can be an alkyl group, an aryl group, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can have a conformal-coating to protect the WGP from at least one of the following: corrosion, dust, and damage due to tensile forces in a liquid on the WGP. The conformal-coating can include a silane conformal-coating with chemical formula (1), chemical formula (2), or combinations thereof: A method of applying a conformal-coating over a WGP can include exposing the WGP to Si(R1)d(R2)e(R3)g. In the above WGP and method, X can be a bond to the ribs; each R1 can be a hydrophobic group; each R3, if any, can be any chemical element or group; d can be 1, 2, or 3, e can be 1, 2, or 3, g can be 0, 1, or 2, and d+e+g=4; R2 can be a silane-reactive-group; and each R6 can be an alkyl group, an aryl group, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate might be desirable for WGP flexibility or to aid in further processing of the WGP. Wires of the WGP can include flexible ribs to minimize or avoid defects such as cracks in the WGP. An etch stop layer in the wires can allow formation of the flexible ribs without delamination of a reflective portion of the wires. The WGP embodiments herein can have improved flexibility, stretchability, compressibility, or combinations thereof with reduced cracking, collapse, and delamination of wires or ribs.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include a heat-dissipation layer. The heat-dissipation layer can enable the WGP to be able to endure high temperatures. The heat-dissipation layer can be located (a) over an array of wires and farther from a transparent substrate than the array of wires; or (b) between the array of wires and the transparent substrate. The heat-dissipation layer can be a continuous layer. The heat-dissipation layer can have a high electrical resistivity and a high coefficient of thermal conductivity.

Abstract: A method for making a wire grid polarizer (WGP) can provide WGPs with high temperature resistance, robust wires, oxidation resistance, and corrosion protection. In one embodiment, the method can comprise: (a) providing an array of wires on a bottom protection layer; (b) applying a top protection layer on the wires, spanning channels between wires; then (c) applying an upper barrier-layer on the top protection layer and into the channels through permeable junctions in the top protection layer. In a variation of this embodiment, the method can further comprise applying a lower barrier-layer before applying the top protection layer. In another variation, the bottom protection layer and the top protection layer can include aluminum oxide. In another embodiment, the method can comprise applying on the WGP an amino phosphonate then a hydrophobic chemical.

Abstract: A method for making a wire grid polarizer (WGP) can provide WGPs with high temperature resistance, robust wires, oxidation resistance, and corrosion protection. In one embodiment, the method can comprise: (a) providing an array of wires on a bottom protection layer; (b) applying a top protection layer on the wires, spanning channels between wires; then (c) applying an upper barrier-layer on the top protection layer and into the channels through permeable junctions in the top protection layer. In a variation of this embodiment, the method can further comprise applying a lower barrier-layer before applying the top protection layer. In another variation, the bottom protection layer and the top protection layer can include aluminum oxide. In another embodiment, the method can comprise applying on the WGP an amino phosphonate then a hydrophobic chemical.

Abstract: A method for making a wire grid polarizer (WGP) can provide WGPs with high temperature resistance, robust wires, oxidation resistance, and corrosion protection. In one embodiment, the method can comprise: (a) providing an array of wires on a bottom protection layer; (b) applying a top protection layer on the wires, spanning channels between wires; then (c) applying an upper barrier-layer on the top protection layer and into the channels through permeable junctions in the top protection layer. In a variation of this embodiment, the method can further comprise applying a lower barrier-layer before applying the top protection layer. In another variation, the bottom protection layer and the top protection layer can include aluminum oxide. In another embodiment, the method can comprise applying on the WGP an amino phosphonate then a hydrophobic chemical.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can have a conformal-coating to protect the WGP from at least one of the following: corrosion, dust, and damage due to tensile forces in a liquid on the WGP. The conformal-coating can include a silane conformal-coating with chemical formula (1), chemical formula (2), or combinations thereof: A method of applying a conformal-coating over a WGP can include exposing the WGP to Si(R1)d(R2)e(R3)g. In the above WGP and method, X can be a bond to the ribs; each R1 can be a hydrophobic group; each R3, if any, can be any chemical element or group; d can be 1, 2, or 3, e can be 1, 2, or 3, g can be 0, 1, or 2, and d+e+g=4; R2 can be a silane-reactive-group; and each R6 can be an alkyl group, an aryl group, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can have a conformal-coating to protect the WGP from oxidation and/or corrosion. The conformal-coating can include a barrier layer with at least one: of aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon carbide, hafnium oxide, and zirconium oxide. A method of making a WGP can include applying the barrier layer over ribs of a WGP by vapor deposition.