Repository logo
 

Devitrite-based optical diffusers.


Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Butt, Haider 
Knowles, Kevin M 
Montelongo, Yunuen 
Amaratunga, Gehan AJ 
Wilkinson, Timothy D 

Abstract

Devitrite is a novel material produced by heat treatment of commercial soda-lime-silica glass. It consists of fans of needle-like crystals which can extend up to several millimeters and have interspacings of up to a few hundred nanometers. To date, only the material properties of devitrite have been reported, and there has been a distinct lack of research on using it for optical applications. In this study, we demonstrate that randomly oriented fans of devitrite crystals can act as highly efficient diffusers for visible light. Devitrite crystals produce phase modulation of light because of their relatively high anisotropy. The nanoscale spacings between these needles enable light to be diffused to large scattering angles. Experimentally measured results suggest that light diffusion patterns with beam widths of up to 120° are produced. Since devitrite is an inexpensive material to produce, it has the potential to be used in a variety of commercial applications.

Description

Keywords

devitrite, diffusers, diffraction, nanoscale spacings

Journal Title

ACS Nano

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1936-0851
1936-086X

Volume Title

8

Publisher

American Chemical Society (ACS)

Rights

DSpace@cambridge license
Sponsorship
HB would like to thank The Leverhulme Trust and Cambridge Philosophical Society for research funding.