SunBox: Screen-To-camera communication with ambient light

A recent development in wireless communication is the use of optical shutters and smartphone cameras to create optical links solely from ambient light. At the transmitter, a liquid crystal display (LCD) modulates ambient light by changing its level of transparency. At the receiver, a smartphone camera decodes the optical pattern. This LCD-To...

Non-alloy Mg anode for Ni-MH batteries: Multiple approaches towards a stable cycling performance

Mg attracts much research interest as anode material for Ni-MH batteries thanks to its lightweight, cost-effectiveness and high theoretical capacity (2200 mA h g⁻¹). However, its practical application is tremendously challenged by the poor hydrogen sorption kinetics, passivation from aggressive aqueous electrolytes, and insulating...

Interface-Engineered Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂-Based Garnet Solid Electrolytes with Suppressed Li-Dendrite Formation and Enhanced Electrochemical Performance

High grain-boundary resistance, Li-dendrite formation, and electrode/Li interfacial resistance are three major issues facing garnet-based solid electrolytes. Herein, interfacial architecture engineering by incorporating 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide (BMP-TFSI) ionic liquid into a garnet oxide is proposed....

Low Temperature Fabrication of SiO2 Films Using Liquid Silicon

In this study, a new fabrication method was implemented to convert liquid silicon into silicon dioxide films through non-vacuum and roll-to-roll compatible processes at low temperatures. The electrical characterization of SiO2 films made from liquid silicon was reported for the first time.

Diffractive Optics of Anisotropic Polarization Gratings

Diffraction gratings are being used to manipulate light in many different applications, such as in flat panel display systems, modern lighting systems, and optical recording. Diffraction gratings can be made polarization selective due to form birefringence. An alternative approach to polarization selective gratings is to use birefringent...

Characterization of the diffraction efficiency of polymer-liquid-crystal-polymer-slices gratings at all incidence angles

Recently, a novel holographic diffraction grating made of polymer slices alternated to homogeneous films of nematic liquid crystal (POLICRYPS) was realized. We study the optical performance of the POLICRYPS gratings by both numerical simulations and experiments. Characterization of the grating at normal and conical reading mount are performed....

Simulations of birefringent gratings as polarizing color separator in backlight for flat-panel displays

A color and polarization separating backlight can be obtained by using a surface-relief grating made of birefringent material as an outcoupling structure on top of the lightguide. A rigorous finite element diffraction model was applied to study the polarization effect of such a grating. The diffraction of plane waves by the anisotropic grating...

Wire-grid diffraction gratings used as polarizing beam splitter for visible light and applied in liquid crystal on silicon

The application of wire grid polarizers as efficient polarizing beam splitters for visible light is studied. The large differences between the transmissivity for different polarizations are explained qualitatively by using the theory of metallic wave guides. The results of rigorous calculations obtained by using the finite element method are...