All-passive optical diode using living liquid crystal doped with silver nanorods

Author(s)

Souza, Paulo F. G. ^[1] ; Viana, Eduardo H. S. ^{[1, 2]} ; Fonseca, Rosana A. S. ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Pereira, Erms ^{[4, 1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Pernambuco, Polytech Sch Pernambuco, Rua Benf 455, BR-50720001 Recife, PE - Brazil

^[2] Pereira, Erms, Univ Fed Rural Pernambuco, Dept Phys, BR-52171900 Recife, PE, Brazil.Souza, Paulo F. G., Univ Pernambuco, Polytech Sch Pernambuco, Rua Benf 455, BR-50720001 Recife, PE - Brazil

^[3] Univ Pernambuco, Inst Biol Sci, Rua Arnobio Marques 310, BR-50100130 Recife, PE - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Rural Pernambuco, Dept Phys, BR-52171900 Recife, PE - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: APPLIED PHYSICS B-LASERS AND OPTICS; v. 126, n. 6 JUN 4 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Some industrial uses of living cells involve genetic engineering or modification of cell's external properties. However, these techniques commonly have high financial costs, do not take advantage of the natural properties of the cells, and have few applications in the photonics area. As the first technological application of living liquid crystals, we propose an all-passive optical diode using Bacillus subtilis, chromonic liquid crystal, and silver nanorods. These three elements comprise a living liquid crystal doped with nanorods that produces a spatial inversion asymmetric system, facilitating the passage of light in one direction and hampering it in the opposite one. Solving Maxwell's equation numerically for this system, we found optical rectification for light's intensity up to 1700%. Such diodes can be the primary units for an all-passive optical film and other nonreciprocal systems. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50983-3 - INCT 2014: complex fluids
• Grantee: Antonio Martins Figueiredo Neto
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants