Thermo-optic controllable hybrid photonic polymers containing inorganic nanoparticles

In order to control thermo-optic (T-O) coefficient of polymer materials, a hybrid polymer system with inorganic nanoparticles was examined. Because polymer materials have high T-O coefficient with low refractive index and inorganic materials have low T-O coefficient with high refractive index, we hybridized these materials. For that, surface-treated inorganic nanoparticles were dispersed into epoxy polymers to make homogeneous composites. Thus, by increasing inorganic nanoparticle contents, the refractive index of the hybrid polymer was changed, and its T-O coefficient was well controlled.