<p>Major efforts have been spent during recent years in worldwide attempts to achieve an electronic paper technology; the common name for novel flexible displays utilizing substrates such as paper, plastics or thin metal sheets. Various kinds of technology are available that potentially will be used for an electronic paper, which differs from each other mainly with respect to the choice of active materials, substrates and manufacturing techniques. There are many applications for electronic paper technology, ranging from high-resolution displays used in electronic books to updateable large-area billboards. The latter suggests a novel electronic display function that could extend the utilization of cellulose-based paper, which is one of the most common materials ever produced by mankind, by using the paper as a thin and flexible carrier. The requirement for fast update speed in such large area applications would probably be a bit more relaxed compared to traditional display technologies, while low-power consumption and bi-stability are among the factors that should be further emphasized, together with the utilization of well-established printing techniques to enable low-cost manufacturing of the displays. The choice of active materials is therefore crucial in order to reach these objectives in reality and this paves the way for printable conjugated polymers with electrochromic properties. Chemical synthesis of these materials during the last decades has resulted in a vast variety of electrochromic polymers with custom-tailored functionality covering a broad range of optical absorption and electrical conductivities.</p><p>This thesis review the studies done on the electrochemical switching of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). For this material both the electrical conductivity and the optical absorption is controlled by the oxidation state. Active matrix addressed displays that are printed on flexible substrates have been obtained by arranging electrochemical smart pixels, based on the combination of electrochemical transistors and electrochromic display cells, into cross-point matrices. The resulting polymer-based active-matrix displays are operated at low voltages and the same active material can be used in electrochemical transistors and conducting lines and in electrochromic display cells employing the electronic and the opto-electonic properties of the material, respectively. In addition to this, a switchable optical polarizer is briefly discussed. This is a device utilizing electrochromism of stretch-aligned polyaniline (PANI). The combination of two identical devices in a vertical architecture, orthogonally oriented with respect to each other, results in a filter in which the orientation of the polarized optical absorption is governed by the voltage polarity applied to the device.</p> / Report code: LiU-TEK-LIC- 2006:18

In this thesis, we investigate the transformation bandwidth and the thickness sensitivity of the anisotropic-slab linearly polarizes (LP) to circularly polarized (CP) polarizer. We define a transformation bandwidth and the thickness sensitivity based on the axial ratio. New methods are proposed that can eliminate the lengthy derivation and give deeper physical insight to the problem. Under the small reflection approximation, i.e., only the forward waves are considered, our methods can be applied to the design of the anisotropic-slab LP to CP polarizer. For the single anisotropic slab, the effect is represented graphically on the polarization ratio plane. It is shown that the polarization locus for a given axial ratio leads to a circle in the polarization state diagram. When combined with the graphical description of the change in the polarization state, the transformation bandwidth and the thickness sensitivity from an initial LP wave to a desired CP wave can be obtained easily. Furthermore, we present a method using the equivalent circuits to represent the polarization effect in anisotropic media, so that some concepts of the electric circuit can be applied. This method is more convenient in dealing with the polarization change when multiple anisotropic-slabs exist. The transformation bandwidths and the thickness sensitivities for the anisotropic-slab polarizer for several lossless media are studied. The results are discussed and illustrated.

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Polarizers and polarization devices are important components in fiber optic communication and sensor systems. There is a growing need for efficient low loss components that are compatible with optical fibers. An all fiber in-line polarizer is a more desirable alternative that could be placed at appropriate intervals along communication links. An in-line fiber polarizer was fabricated and tested. The in-line fiber polarizer operates by coupling optical energy propagating in the fiber to a surface plasmon on a metallic film, which has been deposited onto the surface of the fiber. The device was constructed by polishing a short section of the lateral surface of the cladding to within the evanescent field present around the fiber core. Several thin films including a metal film are applied to the polished section of the fiber. Ionic self-assembled monolayer method was used to coat the polished fiber with thin film. / Master of Science

Wire-grid polarizers (WGPs) offer superior extinction, durability, angle of incidence, and heat resistance when compared to traditional organic polarizers. WGPs are found in applications such as high lumen lighting, laser devices, high lumen digital cinema projectors, LED packaging, and other integrated optical applications and are driving the need for over-coatings. Over-coating a WGP has been found to increase lifetime and durability. This research provides lifetime data on coated and uncoated WGPs. WGPs over-coated with 100nm of SiO2, 300nm of MgF2, and with no over-coating were heated to temperatures of 450 ºC, 500 ºC, and 550 ºC and timed until they reached a predetermined optical failure point. The activation energies were calculated by applying the Arrhenius model to the failure data. WGPs with no over-coating were found to have an activation energy ≥ 1.5329 eV, with silicon dioxide an activation energy ≥ 1.7197 eV, and with magnesium fluoride an activation energy ≥ 2.4577 eV. It has been shown that coating a WGP with an over-coating of silicon dioxide or magnesium fluoride slows the oxidation process of the aluminum nano-wires, thus increasing the lifetime of the WGP by 208% and 27,904%, respectively. Parasitic chemical reactions were not found to exist with silicon dioxide or magnesium fluoride when used as an over-coating.

The development of a complete thermoelectric generator and its application on a display polarizer film was successfully accomplished in this thesis. A systematic study of the prospective thermoelectric materials, PEDOT:PSS-based and ${ZnON}$, used for the present application is presented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first exploration of the thermoelectric parameters of ${ZnON}$ reported here. Thin-film deposition of these materials was performed via both solution- and vacuum-based techniques. In addition, certain doping mechanisms were tested in an attempt to further understand the correlation between electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient. A maximum power factor of $42{\mu}Wm^{-1}K^{-2}$ was achieved for the PEDOT:PSS-based thin film at room temperature. It was initially doped via 5vol% of DMSO and sequentially treated with ethylene glycol. Specifically, its electrical conductivity displayed a 2-fold increase after EG treatment, reaching a value of about 1632 Scm$^{-1}$. Systematic studies performed on the association between thin-film thickness and its Seebeck coefficient shows a decrease in the latter as the number of multilayers printed increases. Among the different $O_{2}/N_{2}$ ratios that were tested for ${ZnON}$ thin films, a maximum power factor value of 163${\mu}Wm^{-1}K{-2}$ was achieved with the lowest $O_{2}$ flow rate configuration. In contrast to PEDOT:PSS-based thin films, the ${ZnON}$ displayed the opposite effect on the relation of the Seebeck coefficient with respect to thin-film thickness. Furthermore, a heterostructure was also developed by implementing ${ZnO}$ nanowires into the ${ZnON}$ thin film. ${ZnO}$ nanowires have been fabricated through the hydrothermal method on inkjet-printed patterns of zinc acetate dihydrate. It has been demonstrated that with the right inkjet-printing parameters and substrate temperature, ${ZnO}$ nanowires can be effortlessly fabricated in accordance with the desired pattern variations under low temperature and mild conditions. Finally, a complete device of the thermoelectric generator was fabricated using the above materials and a special set-up developed in order to test the device on the polarizer. The power output achieved from a 1-thermoelectric couple under normal backlight illumination and ambient conditions was 23pW. Overall, it is thought that the particular design and proof of concept presented here can be the basis of a prospective energy harvesting scheme via thermoelectrics in future display-based handheld devices.

Orientadores: Cristiano Monteiro de Barros Codeiro, Marcos Antonio Ruggieri Franco / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T13:14:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ValenzuelaEspinel_YovannyAlexander_M.pdf: 51370027 bytes, checksum: 2f925ea5d4b6a8642e1244ad21e8e82b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: Foram realizados estudos sobre o controle de propriedades ópticas, por meio de pressão, e sensibilidade à pressão com fibras de cristal fotônico (PCF). No primeiro caso foi demonstrado por meio de simulações, uma nova forma para obter e sintonizar com pressão hidrostática externa o estado monomodo e única polarização em fibras PCF de polimetilmetacritalo (PMMA). Em relação à sensibilidade à pressão hidrostática, o comportamento espectral do coeficiente de sensibilidade de varias fibras PCF em sílica, Cs = (?? / ?P) (onde ?? é a variação num mínimo do espectro de transmissão de uma fibra PCF que acontece quando a pressão hidrostática externa muda em LlP), é calculado teoricamente e corroborado experimentalmente. Com a finalidade de estudar teoricamente o coeficiente Cs, a birrefringência de grupo e a sensibilidade da birrefringência modal de fase à pressão são simuladas para as fibras. Expressões analíticas do coeficiente Cs na aproximação de primeira e segunda ordem são calculadas. Nas duas aproximações é confirmado um aumento do Cs para comprimentos de onda no visível devido à birrefringência de grupo. Para baixas pressões, tal comportamento é corroborado experimentalmente. Segundo a literatura apresentada até agora a possibilidade de otimizar o coeficiente Cs, fazendo uso da birrefringência de grupo no visível e ao mesmo tempo incorporando geometrias com uma alta anisotropia geométrica para aumentar a sensibilidade da birrefringência modal de fase à pressão, não tem sido explorada. Na aproximação de segunda ordem do coeficiente Cs são incorporadas as mudanças do comprimento de onda e da pressão e são comparadas com a aproximação de primeira ordem. Cálculos analíticos foram feitos e apresentados nos Apêndices B e C. As equações do efeito fotoelástico, determinantes para realizar as simulações com o software (COMSOL 3.5a), são apresentadas no Apêndice B, relações que descrevem o coeficiente Cs de fibras PCF são apresentadas no (Apêndice C) / Abstract: Abstract Studies about both the active control of optical properties by means of external hydrostatic pressure and pressure sensitivity in photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) were made. In the first case, a new form to obtain and tune, by using pressure, the single-mode single-polarization state in microstructured polymer optical fibers (mPOFs) is demonstrated by simulations. In relation to pressure sensitivity, the spectral behavior of the sensitivity coefficient of some PCFs in silica, Cs = (?? / ?P) (where ?? é is the change in a minimum of the transmission spectrum for a PCF as a consequence of the change in the external hydrostatic pressure 11P that is applied on the fiber), is calculated and corroborated experimentally. In order to investigate the coefficient Cs, the group birefringence and the sensitivity of phase modal birefringence to pressure are calculated in the fibers. Analytical expressions for the coefficient Cs in the first and second order approximation are calculated. In these two approximations an increase of the coefficient Cs is confirmed to wavelengths in the visible. To low pressures this behavior is corroborated experimentally. At the best of our knowledge, the possibility to optimize the coefficient (Cs) by using the group birefringence and geometries with high geometric anisotropy to enhancing the sensitivity of phase modal birefringence to pressure has not been investigated. In the coefficient Cs with the second order approximation are incorporated the changes of the wavelength and pressure and are compared with the first approximation. On the other hand, analytic calculates are realized in the Appendixes B and C. The equations related to the photoelastic effect were calculates (Appendix B). Finally, the relations that describing the behavior of pressure sensitivity also were calculates (Appendix C) / Mestrado / Física / Mestra em Física

Tato diplomová práce se zabývá teoretickými poznatky a návrhem bikónické antény pracující v kmitočtovém rozsahu 4 až 8 GHz. V rámci práce jsou také popsány způsoby impedančního přizpůsobení a vybrané typy polarizátorů elektromagnetických vln a radioprůzračných krytů. Na základě teoretických poznatků je určena koncepce návrhu bikónické antény a vybrán vhodný polarizátor pro zajištění kruhové polarizace vyzařovaných elektromagnetických vln.

Circular polarization is valuable for many electromagnetic radiation applications such as wireless and satellite communication, radars, RFID, global positioning systems, etc. Many efforts have been made to manipulate and control polarization by using linear-to-linear or linear-to-circular transmission or reflection polarization converters. Most of the existing linear-to-circular single-layer polarizers have been found to be narrowband. Some attempts have been made to improve the bandwidth of these polarizers including using multiple layered structures at the expense of a bulkier device. There was, however, still a requirement for thin single-layer linear-to-circular polarizers with enhanced bandwidth. The purpose of this research was to design two thin single-layer linear-to-circular polarizers, one for transmission and the other for reflection, with enhanced bandwidth. A thin single-layer linear-to-circular transmission polarizer with a 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth of 34% is presented. The bandwidth of this polarizer is significantly better than that of previously published polarizers of the same type. The unit cell of the polarizer consists of an I-shaped strip and a perpendicular linear strip printed on the one side of a thin dielectric substrate and two additional capacitive coupling strips printed on the other side of the substrate. Experimental results were found to agree well with the simulated results. A thin single-layer reflective linear-to-circular polarizer with a 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth of 57% is also presented. The unit cell of the polarizer consists of an I-shaped strip and a perpendicular linear strip printed on the one side of a substrate and a ground plane on the other side of the substrate. Experimental results for this polarizer were also found to agree well with the simulated results. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / MEng / Unrestricted