Biopolymer-based optical element
AssigneeCambridge Scientific, Inc.
InventorDebra J. Trantolo
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Abstract
Provided is an optical element comprising a biopolymer having an oriented structure and a photoresponsive compound, such as a photochromic compound, wherein at least a portion of the photoresponsive compound is incorporated within the oriented structure of the biopolymer and wherein the oriented structure is laminar with the planes of the laminar orientation being aligned perpendicular to a surface of the optical element. Preferably, the biopolymer is a liquid crystal polypeptide, such as ferroelectric liquid crystal poly(γ-methyl-L-glutamate), and the photochromic compound is bacteriorhodopsin. Such optical elements may be utilized in a holographic grating, in an optical correlator system such as for pattern recognition, in a dynamic holographic recording system, and in an optical switch.
Claims5
A method of preparing an optical element, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a biopolymer solution comprising a biopolymer in a heliogenic solvent, said biopolymer forming an α-helical structure in said biopolymer solution;
- (b) dispensing said biopolymer solution between a pair of electrodes, said biopolymer solution having a surface;
- (c) applying an electric field between said electrodes and parallel to said surface of said biopolymer solution to thereby orient said biopolymer with respect to said electric field, said heliogenic solvent evaporating upon said application of said electric field to form an oriented biopolymer film;
- and
- (d) incorporating a photoresponsive compound into said oriented biopolymer film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.