Abstract: A film stack includes a plurality of first films and a plurality of second films alternately stacked. At least one second film of the plurality of second films includes a solid crystal including crystal molecules aligned in a predetermined alignment direction. At least one first film of the plurality of first films includes an alignment structure configured to at least partially align the crystal molecules of the solid crystal in the predetermined alignment direction.

Abstract: An optical element is provided. The optical element includes a solid crystal including crystal molecules aligned in a predetermined alignment pattern at least partially defined by an alignment structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polymeric waveguide for propagating light therein along width and length dimensions of the polymeric waveguide. The polymeric waveguide has a first curved surface on one side thereof and a second curved surface on an opposite second side thereof, and a refractive index spatially varying through a thickness thereof between the first curved surface and the second curved surface. The polymeric waveguide is curved in a cross-section comprising at least one of the width and length dimensions.

Abstract: An organic field effect transistor includes a channel structure having a photoalignment layer and an organic semiconductor layer disposed directly over the photoalignment layer, where a charge carrier mobility varies along a thickness direction of the channel structure. The channel structure may define an active area between a source and a drain of the transistor and may include alternating layers of at least two photoalignment layers and at least two organic semiconductor layers. Each photoalignment layer is configured to influence an orientation of molecules within an overlying organic semiconductor layer and hence impact the mobility of charge carriers within the device active area while also advantageously decreasing the OFF current of the device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polymeric waveguide for propagating light therein along width and length dimensions of the polymeric waveguide. The polymeric waveguide has a first curved surface on one side thereof and a second curved surface on an opposite second side thereof, and a refractive index spatially varying through a thickness thereof between the first curved surface and the second curved surface. The polymeric waveguide is curved in a cross-section comprising at least one of the width and length dimensions.

Abstract: An organic thin film includes an organic crystalline phase, where the organic crystalline phase defines a surface having a surface roughness (Ra) of less than approximately 10 micrometers over an area of at least approximately 1 cm2. The organic thin film may be manufactured from an organic precursor and a non-volatile medium material that is configured to mediate the surface roughness of the organic crystalline phase during crystal nucleation and growth. The thin film may be formed using a suitably shaped mold, for example, and the non-volatile medium material may be disposed between a layer of the organic precursor and the mold during processing.

Abstract: A method of forming an organic solid crystal (OSC) thin film includes forming a layer of a non-volatile medium material over a surface of a mold, forming a layer of a molecular feedstock over a surface of the non-volatile medium material, the molecular feedstock including an organic solid crystal precursor, forming crystal nuclei from the organic solid crystal precursor, and growing the crystal nuclei to form the organic solid crystal thin film. An organic solid crystal (OSC) thin film may include a biaxially-oriented organic solid crystal layer having mutually orthogonal refractive indices, n1?n2?n3.

Abstract: The disclosure provides high refractive index ceramic material nanoimprint lithography (NIL) gratings having a relatively lower amount of carbon compared to traditional NIL gratings, and methods of making and using thereof, and devices including such gratings. The ceramic material includes one or more of titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, hafnium oxide, tungsten oxide, zinc tellurium, gallium phosphide, or any combination or derivative thereof.

Abstract: An actuator assembly includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive polymer layer disposed between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, where the electroactive polymer layer includes a non-vertical (e.g., sloped) sidewall with respect to a major surface of at least one of the electrodes. The electroactive polymer layer may be characterized by a non-axisymmetric shape with respect to an axis that is oriented orthogonal to an electrode major surface.

Abstract: A multilayer organic thin film includes a plurality of biaxially-oriented layers, where each layer is characterized by mutually orthogonal refractive indices, n1?n2?n3. In example structures, the corresponding in-plane refractive indices of adjacent layers may be rotated with respect to each other by a predetermined angle. Such a multilayer may be incorporated into a circular reflective polarizer, for example, which may be used in display systems to provide high broadband efficiency and high off-axis contrast. In an example process, individual organic thin films may be molded, and then oriented and stacked to form a multilayer.

Abstract: An organic thin film includes an organic solid crystal material and has mutually orthogonal refractive indices, nx, ny, and nz each having a value at 589 nm of between approximately 1.5 and approximately 2.6, where nx?ny?nz. The organic thin film may be birefringent, and may be configured as a single layer thin film, or plural organic thin films may be stacked to form a multilayer that may be incorporated into an optical element, such as a reflective polarizer.

Abstract: An optical element (e.g., a lens) may include an optically uniaxial or optically biaxial organic solid, for example, an organic molecular solid. The direction of a maximum refractive index of the organic solid may be aligned substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of the lens. In some examples, a device may include a display and an optical configuration configured to receive light from the display and direct the light to a remote view location. In some examples, the optical configuration may comprise a lens and at least one surface of the lens may include a plurality of facets, for example, to form a Fresnel lens.

Abstract: A system comprising (1) at least one optical element having a nonplanar surface, (2) at least one photonic integrated circuit disposed on the nonplanar surface of the optical element, the photonic integrated circuit comprising (A) an optical core that contains an optically anisotropic organic material and (B) a cladding disposed over the optical core. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polymeric waveguide for propagating light therein along width and length dimensions of the polymeric waveguide. The polymeric waveguide has a first curved surface on one side thereof and a second curved surface on an opposite second side thereof, and a refractive index spatially varying through a thickness thereof between the first curved surface and the second curved surface. The polymeric waveguide is curved in a cross-section comprising at least one of the width and length dimensions.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method of fabricating a nano-sized structure in a resin element by nanoimprint lithography (NIL). The method reduces adhesive failure during NIL demolding by forming a layer of polymerization inhibiting compound at the interface of the resin element and template. The resin element is made with a mixture of a polymerization inhibiting compound (e.g., a perfluorinated compound) and a resin (e.g., a fluorine resin). The method includes aging the resin element to promote migration of the polymerization inhibiting compound to an interface of the resin element with air. The method also includes pressing a surface of a template having a nano-sized pattern onto the surface of the resin element exposed to the air to form the nano-sized structure in the resin element. The method further includes curing the resin element after the nano-sized structure is formed and then removing the template from the resin element.

Abstract: A film stack includes a plurality of first films and a plurality of second films alternately stacked. At least one second film of the plurality of second films includes a solid crystal including crystal molecules aligned in a predetermined alignment direction. At least one first film of the plurality of first films includes an alignment structure configured to at least partially align the crystal molecules of the solid crystal in the predetermined alignment direction.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method of fabricating a nano-sized structure in a resin element by nanoimprint lithography (NIL). The method reduces adhesive failure during NIL demolding by inhibiting polymerization at the interface between the resin element and the template. The method includes depositing a layer of polymerization inhibiting compound onto a surface of the template. The layer of polymerization inhibiting compound has a thickness no more than 10 nanometers. A surface of the template has a nano-sized pattern that mirrors that nano-sized structure. The method further includes pressing the template onto the resin element (or the resin element onto the template) to form the nano-sized structure in the resin element. The process also includes curing the resin element after forming the nano-sized structure and removing the template from the resin element after curing the resin element. The polymerization inhibiting compound prevents adhesive failure during the removing.

Abstract: An organic field effect transistor includes a channel structure defining an active area located between a source and a drain. The channel structure includes a photoalignment layer and an organic semiconductor layer disposed directly over the photoalignment layer. The photoalignment layer is configured to influence an orientation of molecules within the organic semiconductor layer and hence impact the mobility of charge carriers both within the active area and adjacent to the active area.

Abstract: An organic field effect transistor includes a channel structure having a photoalignment layer and an organic semiconductor layer disposed directly over the photoalignment layer, where a charge carrier mobility varies along a thickness direction of the channel structure. The channel structure may define an active area between a source and a drain of the transistor and may include alternating layers of at least two photoalignment layers and at least two organic semiconductor layers. Each photoalignment layer is configured to influence an orientation of molecules within an overlying organic semiconductor layer and hence impact the mobility of charge carriers within the device active area while also advantageously decreasing the OFF current of the device.

Abstract: An optical film includes an organic solid crystal film formed of a contiguous organic solid crystal having a first dimension no less than 100 micrometer and a second dimension distinct from the first dimension no less than one centimeter. Methods for making the organic solid crystal film are also described.