Abstract
We demonstrate proof-of-concept refractive-index structures with large refractive-index-gradient profiles, using a micro-contact photothermal annealing (mu CPA) process to pattern organic/inorganic hybrid materials comprising titanium oxide hydrate within a poly(vinyl alcohol) binder. A significant refractive index modulation of up to Delta n approximate to +0.05 can be achieved with mu CPA within less than a second of pulsed lamp exposure, which promises the potential for a high throughput fabrication process of photonic structures with a polymer-based system.