SPP 1839: Tailored Disorder - A science- and engineering-based approach to materials design for advanced photonic applications

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The SPP “Tailored disorder – A science- and engineering-based approach to materials design for advanced photonic applications” investigates photonic properties of materials composites with deliberately introduced irregularities in geometry and composition. Natural and artificially optimized technical materials will be studied with respect to fundamental scientific questions and various topics of material science and engineering. Using inspiration from biological systems, results from physics, chemical approaches and validation from simulation the SPP will enable the design of novel advanced photonic materials. This will ultimately lead to custom-made devices for a variety of photonic applications with a performance depending on tailored disorder within 3D micro- and nano-architectures.Recent research demonstrates that strict periodicity in photonic device components is not the only possible way to reach a desired functionality. A controlled degree of disorder can give rise to unforeseen optical effects. Tailored disorder in materials can therefore propose design guidance to produce resilient materials, fulfilling the requirements for multi-functionality in complex environments and application fields. However, there is a large gap between theoretical understanding and available materials and devices. Up to now, fabrication routes to tailor disorder at a sufficiently large scale in a material have been scarce. The objectives of the SPP comprise the successful production of materials containing a defined degree and type of disorder with predictable photonic properties resulting in technological demonstrators. Theoretically predicted and experimentally realized systems that have been identified so far are not only limited with respect to performance, but are also too expensive for any widespread technological implementation. Thus, new fabrication approaches and synthetic routes are required which merge scientific understanding with advanced engineering strategies.One of the major goals is the identification of nano-architectures in biological systems which produce a specialized optical response by means of disordered photonic structures e.g. in the wings of butterflies and other insects. The selective refraction and diffraction of light will subsequently be studied experimentally and theoretically with emphasis on (dis)order and (ir)regularity, identifying blueprints for artificial, bio-inspired nano-architectures. Finally, the most promising approaches will be experimentally replicated using lab-based nano-fabrication.To advance this interdisciplinary field of nano-science and –technology beyond pure observation, research along the following line is planned, starting with (i) biological blueprints followed by (ii) bio-inspired replication and (iii) ultimately identification of design rules for artificial synthesis/-patterning and optimization of photonic nano-architectures with tailored disorder to be implemented in device concepts.