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Photonic Gel a Metamaterial with Myriad Uses

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HOUSTON and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 11, 2012 — Thin films that change color under certain conditions and are incredibly cheap to make may inform future multiband optical elements in laser-driven systems or high-contrast displays, among other applications. The micron-thick material, called a photonic gel, combines polymers into a unique self-assembled metamaterial that changes color when exposed to ions — in a solution or in the environment — based on the ion’s ability to infiltrate the hydrophilic (water-loving) layers. The new material is so cheap to make that “we could cover an area the size of a...Read full article

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    Published: October 2012
    Glossary
    metamaterial
    Metamaterials are artificial materials engineered to have properties not found in naturally occurring substances. These materials are designed to manipulate electromagnetic waves in ways that are not possible with conventional materials. Metamaterials typically consist of structures or elements that are smaller than the wavelength of the waves they interact with. Key characteristics of metamaterials include: Negative refraction index: One of the most notable features of certain...
    photonics
    The technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The science includes light emission, transmission, deflection, amplification and detection by optical components and instruments, lasers and other light sources, fiber optics, electro-optical instrumentation, related hardware and electronics, and sophisticated systems. The range of applications of photonics extends from energy generation to detection to communications and...
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