Novel Mid-infrared Compatible Chalcogenide Structure Materials
Princeton Docket # 12-2828-1
The mid-infrared spectral region (3-12um) is a newcomer in the beam combining technology field gaining increasing attention. The emergence of commercially available semi-conductor lasers operating at room temperatures and at any wavelength in the mid-infrared range is rapidly shifting attention towards this part of the optical spectrum, creating a pressing need for optical components fabricated from materials that are compatible with the mid-infrared. To address this need, researchers at Princeton University have developed a novel method to fabricate a multilayered chalcogenide structure, which can give rise to ultra-thick free standing chalcogenide films.
Chalcogenide glass materials exhibit a variety of optical properties that make them desirable for near and mid-infrared communications and sensing applications. The solution-based method developed by Princeton researchers can be applied to obtain thick (tens of microns and larger) free-standing chalcogenide films and process them into multilayer structures, via stacking with materials of different refractive indices. One immediate application would be for a mid-IR holographic beam combiner.
Novel materials that could be created using this technology include: extremely thick chalcogenide films with the capability of being freely transferrable to any surfaces, alternative layered structures of a chalcogenide film and another material, and layers of stacked and diffused chalcogenide films with a refractive index gradient. It is anticipated that the new list of chalcogenide structure materials hold great promise for new devices in the field of mid-infrared technologies.
The Faculty Inventor
Craig Arnold is Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Associate Director of Academic Affairs in the Princeton Institute for Science and Technology of Materials. His research primarily focuses on laser processing and transport in materials with particular emphasis on shaping laser-material interactions. Among many awards and honors Professor Arnold has won are the NSF Career Award (2006) and ONR Young Investigators Award (2005).
Intellectual Property status
Patent protection is pending.
Princeton is currently seeking commercial partners for the further development and commercialization of this opportunity.
Contact
Michael Tyerech
Princeton University Office of Technology Licensing
(609) 258-6762 tyerech@princeton.edu