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Switchable Broadband Terahertz Absorbers Based on Conducting Polymer-Cellulose Aerogels

Kuang, Chaoyang ; Chen, Shangzhi ; Luo, Min ; Zhang, Qilun ; Sun, Xiao ; Han, Shaobo ; Wang, Qingqing ; Stanishev, Vallery ; Darakchieva, Vanya LU and Crispin, Reverant , et al. (2023) In Advanced Science
Abstract

Terahertz (THz) technologies provide opportunities ranging from calibration targets for satellites and telescopes to communication devices and biomedical imaging systems. A main component will be broadband THz absorbers with switchability. However, optically switchable materials in THz are scarce and their modulation is mostly available at narrow bandwidths. Realizing materials with large and broadband modulation in absorption or transmission forms a critical challenge. This study demonstrates that conducting polymer-cellulose aerogels can provide modulation of broadband THz light with large modulation range from ≈ 13% to 91% absolute transmission, while maintaining specular reflection loss < −30 dB. The exceptional THz modulation is... (More)

Terahertz (THz) technologies provide opportunities ranging from calibration targets for satellites and telescopes to communication devices and biomedical imaging systems. A main component will be broadband THz absorbers with switchability. However, optically switchable materials in THz are scarce and their modulation is mostly available at narrow bandwidths. Realizing materials with large and broadband modulation in absorption or transmission forms a critical challenge. This study demonstrates that conducting polymer-cellulose aerogels can provide modulation of broadband THz light with large modulation range from ≈ 13% to 91% absolute transmission, while maintaining specular reflection loss < −30 dB. The exceptional THz modulation is associated with the anomalous optical conductivity peak of conducting polymers, which enhances the absorption in its oxidized state. The study also demonstrates the possibility to reduce the surface hydrophilicity by simple chemical modifications, and shows that broadband absorption of the aerogels at optical frequencies enables de-frosting by solar-induced heating. These low-cost, aqueous solution-processable, sustainable, and bio-friendly aerogels may find use in next-generation intelligent THz devices.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
in press
subject
keywords
aerogels, cellulose, conducting polymers, redox tuning, terahertz
in
Advanced Science
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • pmid:37997181
  • scopus:85177675913
ISSN
2198-3844
DOI
10.1002/advs.202305898
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
41635359-d859-4b6b-9626-8a9397891d9d
date added to LUP
2024-01-09 11:24:11
date last changed
2024-04-24 07:19:56
@article{41635359-d859-4b6b-9626-8a9397891d9d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Terahertz (THz) technologies provide opportunities ranging from calibration targets for satellites and telescopes to communication devices and biomedical imaging systems. A main component will be broadband THz absorbers with switchability. However, optically switchable materials in THz are scarce and their modulation is mostly available at narrow bandwidths. Realizing materials with large and broadband modulation in absorption or transmission forms a critical challenge. This study demonstrates that conducting polymer-cellulose aerogels can provide modulation of broadband THz light with large modulation range from ≈ 13% to 91% absolute transmission, while maintaining specular reflection loss &lt; −30 dB. The exceptional THz modulation is associated with the anomalous optical conductivity peak of conducting polymers, which enhances the absorption in its oxidized state. The study also demonstrates the possibility to reduce the surface hydrophilicity by simple chemical modifications, and shows that broadband absorption of the aerogels at optical frequencies enables de-frosting by solar-induced heating. These low-cost, aqueous solution-processable, sustainable, and bio-friendly aerogels may find use in next-generation intelligent THz devices.</p>}},
  author       = {{Kuang, Chaoyang and Chen, Shangzhi and Luo, Min and Zhang, Qilun and Sun, Xiao and Han, Shaobo and Wang, Qingqing and Stanishev, Vallery and Darakchieva, Vanya and Crispin, Reverant and Fahlman, Mats and Zhao, Dan and Wen, Qiye and Jonsson, Magnus P.}},
  issn         = {{2198-3844}},
  keywords     = {{aerogels; cellulose; conducting polymers; redox tuning; terahertz}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Advanced Science}},
  title        = {{Switchable Broadband Terahertz Absorbers Based on Conducting Polymer-Cellulose Aerogels}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/advs.202305898}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/advs.202305898}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}