Innovative Optical/Quasioptical Technologies and Nano Engineering of Anisotropic Materials for Creating Active Cells with Substantially Improved Energy Efficiency

Project Information

IMAGE

Grant agreement ID: 778156

DOI

10.3030/778156

Project closed

EC signature date 23 November 2017

Start date 1 February 2018

End date 31 July 2024

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 1 692 000,00

EU contribution

€ 1 692 000,00

Coordinated by

LVIV POLYTECHNIC NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Ukraine

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - IMAGE (Innovative Optical/Quasioptical Technologies and Nano Engineering of Anisotropic Materials for Creating Active Cells with Substantially Improved Energy Efficiency)

Reporting period: 2020-02-01 to 2024-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The project's principal goal is to combine research expertise in optics, crystallography, and material science with efforts in material engineering to go beyond the state-of-the-art in developing highly efficient energy-saving optical cells based on interactions between electromagnetic and acoustic waves and exploiting nonlinear optical effects. The project tackles the challenge of developing highly efficient, energy-saving optical cells operating in electromagnetic radiation's optical and quasi-optical (sub-terahertz) domains. Current optical cells often have limitations due to suboptimal interactions between electromagnetic and acoustic waves and insufficient exploitation of nonlinear optical effects, especially in anisotropic materials.

Advancements in efficient, energy-saving optical cells are vital for society, as they reduce energy consumption and environmental impact by lowering carbon emissions. Enhanced optical technologies spur telecommunications and medical imaging innovation, improving essential services. The project also drives economic growth by creating high-tech jobs and strengthening Europe’s global research and innovation competitiveness.

The project’s overall objective is to surpass the current state of the art by integrating the previous expertise of IMAGE partners to develop efficient, energy-saving optical cells. These cells will exploit enhanced interactions between electromagnetic and acoustic waves and nonlinear optical effects. By optimizing anisotropic materials—both natural and tailored—using 3D anisotropy analysis and nanoengineering to grow nanocrystallites in preferred orientations, we aim to improve energy characteristics. The project also fosters academia-industry collaboration and boosts Europe’s competitiveness in optical and nanoengineering research.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The work performed during the entire project implementation period was a coordinated effort of enterprise and academia partners, structured into four main R&D domains: obtaining novel materials, developing reliable experimental techniques, characterization of relevant materials in an optical and sub-terahertz frequency range and modeling/designing prototypes of new devices based on these materials. In terms of tasks, the work was divided into nine work packages, each led by one of the participating organizations.

Several important research results were achieved concerning the project's main idea. The selection of the materials and their brief characterization have been completed. The chosen substances are categorized into two classes, including 12 crystalline materials and 6 different liquid crystals for bulk and nanocomposite applications.

A series of automated laboratory setups allowing the characterization of selected materials and the derivation of their important technological parameters were built and brought into operation. Existing experimental equipment for investigating the electromechanical, electro-, piezo-, and acoustic properties of crystals has been upgraded.
Various methods for obtaining ordered anisotropic membrane-type nanostructures were investigated. Preliminary results show that the proposed technique is viable, and the right choice of growing conditions for nanocomposite crystalline materials is crucial for obtaining effective, crystalline electro-optical and nonlinear optical materials.

Aiming to create controllable elements for next-generation high-frequency electronics, the team investigated the tunability of bulk crystalline materials in the sub-terahertz range using an electric field, acoustic wave, optical radiation, and other external interactions. The team identified the most important phenomena that can be potentially utilized to obtain the desired effect.

The approach for finding the best achievable values of the linear electro-optic and nonlinear optical effect in crystals was developed, documented, and applied to several sample materials. Related findings of fundamental interest were published in high-impact journals.

The efficiency of the second harmonic generation process in selected crystalline materials was analyzed, and based on this analysis, universal software tools were created.

To facilitate the project results dissemination, the team contributed to the organization of 14 international conferences such as:
TCSET-2018 (Ukraine), NAP-2018 (Ukraine), ICTON-2019 (France), IMNE-2019 (Poland), TCSET-2020 (Ukraine), RNAOPM-2020 (Ukraine), NAP-2021 (Ukraine), OMEE-2021 (Ukraine), TCSET-2022 (Ukraine), NAP-2022 (Poland), IMNE-2022 (Ukraine), ICTON-2023 (France), IMNE-2023 (Ukraine), IMNE-2024 (Ukraine).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

As part of implementing the IMAGE project, the progress beyond the state of the art and excesses of the technical level are as follows.
1. A coplanar waveguide subterahertz modulator based on the concept of an acousto-optic modulator was investigated. The experimental device combines an IDT and a transmission line on a single lithium niobate substrate to investigate the effect of surface acoustic wave-induced permittivity changes on sub-THz signal transmission.
2. We proposed a new type of electro-optical modulator based on LiNbO3 single crystal, which uses unpolarized light without additional energy loss. This modulator can work in a wide spectral range. Our cocreating a highly efficient electro-optical modulator operating on unpolarized radiation with high energy and stable characteristics.
3. We extend the technique of extreme surfaces to nonlinear optical effects - the generation of the second harmonic (DWG), the sum (SFG), and the difference frequency (RDF) in biaxial crystals. In particular, an algorithm for constructing extreme surfaces for SHG, SFG, and DFG processes has been developed. The optimal vector synchronization geometries for several biaxial nonlinear optical crystals - KTP, KTA, KB5, KNbO3, LBO, CBO, LRB4, GdCOB, YCOB, BiBO and LCB - were determined. Both vector and scalar synchronism cases are considered and compared for all crystals. The directions of wave vectors are determined by the method of extreme surfaces, which ensures the maximum possible generation efficiency.

A center of excellence in innovative technologies and nanoengineering was established to make our technological services accessible to interested parties. The project opens future career prospects, allowing researchers to pursue PhDs in materials science, physics, chemistry, optics, or nanoengineering. So far, four graduate students have earned doctoral degrees through participation in the IMAGE project.

The project positions Europe at the forefront of optic and nanoengineering research, enhancing its global competitiveness. By evaluating the interferometric setup from the IMAGE project for measuring the refractive index of crystalline materials, we stimulate economic activity. With effective commercialization, these advancements could create jobs in high-tech sectors through the development of advanced technologies.

The project’s results significantly enhance the understanding of optical effects in anisotropic materials, potentially impacting other scientific fields. This advancement can develop a more skilled workforce, promote STEM education, strengthen academia-industry ties across Europe, and foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, highlighting the research’s broader societal implications.

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