Integrated active optical thin film devices based on nano-structured smart functional materials

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Optical coating applications represented a worldwide market of 4.3 billion US dollars in 2005; they range from antireflective coatings found in most optical components to narrowband optical interference filters used in telecommunications. While most current applications require that the optical properties of the materials are passive (their properties do not change with applied conditions), there exists much interest to develop new applications such as thin film security devices, sensors and filters for instrumentation based on active materials. In the present project, we propose to develop new active anti-counterfeiting devices whose appearance changes when applying external actuation, as well as all-optical thin film sensors based on nanostructure-controlled porous materials applied to optical fibers. Part of this project will be devoted to the development of a physical model that simultaneously takes into account the multifunctional properties (including mechanical, optical and others) of individual films and allows one to predict and design the performance of environmentally stable optical filters, such as those used in astronomy. These new technologies will directly benefit the Canadian industry.